Andrew Neary had a lot of dreams.
He studied computer science at the University of Toronto, opened a board game café, and studied to be a paramedic, all before finding journalism.
Neary, now a successful journalist for CBC Iqaluit, said it was his time at FastStart that put him on that path.
“I would not be where I am without that time,” said Neary.
FastStart was an entrepreneurial centre at Durham College that helped students start their own business.
The space held workshops, competitions and provided mentorship for dozens of students.
FastStart was cut as a result of Durham College’s ongoing financial challenges, stemming from underfunding and fewer international students.
The lasting impacts of FastStart
Neary started volunteering with FastStart at the beginning of his studies at Durham College. From there he quickly became a brand ambassador and co-president of the Enactus team.
Enactus is a student-led club that teaches students to use business skills to solve social problems. Until this year, it was housed within FastStart.
Neary, with the aid of other club members, helped produce “Founders Drive,” a podcast centred around obstacles young entrepreneurs face.
The podcast went on to win Enactus Regionals, a Canadian competition for post-secondary schools where students can showcase their community outreach projects.
“I attribute a lot of who I am today to just everything that happened with that team, with Enactus,” said Neary.
Balancing the budget
FastStart fell under the the Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ORSIE).
Jean Choi, vice-president of Academic, said it was not an easy choice to close the centre.
“We had to prioritise,” said Choi. “Those were the very difficult decisions that we had to make for our budget to be balanced.”
According to the 2024/2025 Durham Colleges Business Plan, the budget predicted a 17.8-million-dollar deficit. In 2025/2026 the number was readjusted to reflect a 12.8-million-dollar deficit.
As a result, the college made significant cuts earlier this year and FastStart was amongst the first to go.
The Future of Enactus
Jennifer Bedford, a professor and faculty advisor with the Enactus team, is “excited” about the future of the club now that is has moved under the umbrella of the Faculty of Business and Information Technology.
“Everyone is impacted by financial reductions right now in the 24 colleges across Ontario,” said Bedford. “That affects students and so now, more than ever, I want to offer support.”
FastStart may be gone, but Bedford said entrepreneurship opportunities at Durham College continue to live on through clubs such as Enactus.