Meet Nolan Quinn

Nolan was born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, the youngest of five children, to Frank & Karen Quinn. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, he continued his studies locally at St. Lawrence College, receiving a diploma in Business Management and Human Resources.

Nolan and his family reside in St. Andrews West, where he and his wife Kimberly are proud parents to three young children, Norah, Nolan Jr. & Nevyn. Kim has worked passionately as a teacher with the Upper Canada District School Board for the last 11 years, currently teaching at Central Public.

Nolan began his professional career working for Saint Elizabeth Health Care, specializing in Human Resource Management. After leaving Saint Elizabeth, he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial goals, returning to manage the business for the last 15 years that gave him his first job, Dairy Queen Cornwall.

Over the years, Nolan has volunteered his time and resources to many community endeavours and charities, working with organizations such as the United Way, the Children’s Treatment Centre, Big Brother’s Big Sister’s, and the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation. Nolan has seen firsthand the caring nature of our community and what we can accomplish when we work together for the good of all.

For a period of six years, Nolan was on the Canadian Franchise Advisory Council for Dairy Queen Canada, representing the stores in Eastern & Northern Ontario. During his terms as chair for his region he sat on numerous sub committees, including the Menu Committee, Cake Committee, & Children’s Miracle Network Committee.

Nolan currently serves as Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. In this role, he leads the delivery of world class postsecondary education in Ontario by spearheading STEM growth and ensuring that students graduate ready to excel in careers that meet our province’s labour market needs. With an enhanced directive to strengthen and secure research in Ontario, Nolan is building on the province’s long history of innovation, further cementing Ontario as a leader across critical, economy-driving sectors.

Prior to this, Nolan served as the Minister of Colleges and Universities and the Associate Minister of Forestry.