Jean-Ann is a member of the Queen’s Law 1984 class. She was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where she lived until the age of five. She then moved with her family to Ottawa where she grew up skiing, playing school sports and playing in a band. After high school, she attended Queen’s University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in English and Politics and then a Law degree. She had the privilege of playing on the varsity squash team for Queen’s, belonged to the Queen’s bands and was a don in the girls’ residences for the 3 years of law school. After graduating in 1984, she moved to Calgary and articled at Mason MacLeod Lyle Smith, Barristers and Solicitors. Upon being called to the Bar in 1985, she practiced at the law firm of Reed Donahue for four years in the areas of corporate, real estate and criminal law.
In 1989, she established her own law firm and has been practicing real estate law for 26 years. She is married to Bob Rooney, who is also a lawyer in Calgary. The shining stars of their life are their six children, Charlie, Maria, Karen, Joey, Robbie and Susanna, who range in age from 26 to 12. They love to spend time together skiing, golfing and travelling. When she is not practicing law, Jean-Ann loves to spend time with her family, play squash and tennis, play in a jazz band and volunteer at her childrens’ schools and at the Children’s Hospital.