During his student days he worked summers on ships on the Great Lakes and spent a time as purser on the SS Noronic.

[2] Rowntree was elected in a by-election in 1956 to replace Elmer Brandon who had died while serving in office.

The changes were brought about partly as a result of the collapse of Prudential Finance Corporation a year earlier.

[11] In February 1969, during a session in the assembly, Rowntree rose to speak about an NDP opposition member's position on water pollution.

[12] It was privately known that Rowntree was a heavy drinker but the incident, which was reported in the press, led to his removal from cabinet a year later and he retired from the legislature.