Our Regent Park: youth perspectives in art

Construction hoarding (temporary fences around construction sites) line many Toronto streets. In Regent Park, the fences around Regent Park’s Phase 4A revitalization construction site have been transformed into something more – a public art display created with a local graphic designer, nearby students, and community partners. 

The artwork along Gerrard Street East and Dreamers Way, the site of a future 26-storey Toronto Community Housing (TCHC) affordable rental building, features photos taken by local students and illustrations by a local artist and tenant. Together, they highlight young residents’ perspectives on the everyday places that shape life in the Regent Park community. 

Turning a construction fence into community art

The hoarding was reimagined from a construction fence into a space for young people from the Regent Park community to share their insights and perspectives on the neighbourhood.

TCHC partnered with Shoot for Peace, a local non-profit organization, to deliver a series of photography workshops for Regent Park students from neighbourhood schools. The workshops introduced youth to photography as a creative tool for storytelling, self-expression, and exploring their neighbourhood.

Through this collaboration, the construction fence became a place where young residents showcased how they see their community today and how they imagine its future.

Students share their love for Regent Park

In the fall of 2025, 43 students in Grades 7 and 8 from Nelson Mandela Park Public School and Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School joined a series of photography workshops connected to the artwork.

Students learned how to use professional cameras and developed skills such as framing, lighting, composition, and photo editing.

They photographed places in Regent Park that were meaningful to them, including parks, streets, and gathering places where they spend time with friends, family, and neighbours.

Their photos highlight the everyday spaces where people gather, connect, and share experiences within the neighbourhood. The images also reflect the students’ ideas about welcoming public spaces, belonging, and the future of their neighbourhood.

Select the tiles below to see some of the student's photos.

One of the students from Nelson Mandela Elementary School reflected on the project: "I was so grateful to have this opportunity to help contribute to my community."

The project gave students the opportunity to get involved as well as demonstrate their skills. Another student shared, "This was such an incredible experience, especially because I get to see my work on public display."  

About the artist

The hoarding artwork and overall design was created by Saretta Khan, a Regent Park resident.

A graduate of the ArtWorksTO program and George Brown College, Saretta is a graphic designer whose work often explores storytelling and community through bold colours and patterns.

For this art installation, her illustrations depict scenes of everyday life in Regent Park – people walking their dogs, children playing, neighbours gathering in parks, and people at work. Her artwork connects the panels, bringing photographs from students together into one shared visual story about the community.

Part of Regent Park’s revitalization

The artwork is part of TCHC’s ongoing revitalization in Regent Park, which began with residents who imagined a stronger future for their community and the next generation.

Today, that work continues with new affordable housing, replacement of Rent-Geared-to-Income homes, and market housing - along with new community spaces, micro-retail opportunities, and public gathering spaces.

Phase 4A, the site where this artwork is displayed, represents the next step in Regent Park’s ongoing transformation. 

By sharing their photos and perspectives, the next generation of Regent Park residents is helping tell the story of this neighbourhood – today, and into the future they hope to see.