From Regent Park to Futuristic Fiction

Saqib Ahsan’s story begins in Regent Park, where he grew up surrounded by the challenges and resilience that define many inner-city neighborhoods. A South Asian Muslim and long-time resident, Saqib credits his personal growth to a network of community support—social services, education programs, and a deep culture of volunteerism. One program in particular, Pathways to Education, played a key role in shaping his aspirations during his high school years.

Dimitrije Martinovic – Local Journalism Initiative

Engaged early on as a mentor and tutor for youth, Saqib developed a strong sense of civic responsibility. He recalls the murals of his childhood—vivid expressions of community hopes and struggles—as early indicators that art and activism are often inseparable in Regent Park.

That insight now fuels his science fiction novel Voyagers, a futuristic tale set a thousand years after an apocalyptic event. Drawing inspiration from Regent Park, the story’s fictional world of Acadia is shaped by waves of migration, power struggles, and deep structural inequalities. The parallels are intentional. Through speculative fiction, Saqib interrogates the legacy of poverty, the persistence of class, and the hidden costs of urban revitalization.

“Just because we ignore class doesn’t make it disappear,” he says. “We’ve just changed how poverty looks.”

By placing marginalized identities at the centre of his futuristic vision, Saqib Ahsan expands the possibilities of who gets to imagine—and shape—the future. His work is both a tribute to Regent Park and a bold reimagining of what lies ahead.