[2] He is also Métis by background[3] and a direct descendant of Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière and Marie-Anne Gaboury, the maternal grandparents of Louis Riel.
Rocan worked as a farmer before entering political life, and also operated a building and moving company and a grain business.
[1] Rural seats in southern Manitoba are generally considered safe for the Progressive Conservative party, and Rocan was elected by more than 2,000 votes over his nearest opponent.
[4] The Progressive Conservatives emerged from this election with a minority government, and Rocan was appointed as speaker of the assembly by premier Gary Filmon on July 21, 1988.
[1] Rocan was respected by all parties in the legislature, and his tenure as speaker was free of the controversies over partisanship which plagued his successor, Louise Dacquay.