February 20, 2026
Plot twist: not a plot
The true story behind the Toronto mystery tunnel
From terror panic to personal refuge — the internet’s torn between awe and 'old news'
TLDR: Toronto’s “terror tunnel” was actually a personal hideaway built by Elton McDonald, not a criminal plot. Commenters split between empathy for a peaceful escape and eye-rolls about the story being from 2015, trading literary vibes, old-news snark, and useful follow-up links — a reminder to pause before panicking.
Remember the “mystery tunnel” that sent Toronto into a #terrortunnel frenzy? Commenters are digging into the real story — a young construction worker, Elton McDonald, quietly carving out a refuge near his childhood home — and the thread is split between tender empathy and snarky time-police. One top voice insists this isn’t weird at all, calling it human instinct: some people dig to feel calm, like a solo sanctuary under the noise. Another camp brings the literature vibes, comparing it to Murakami’s surreal wells — “Wind-Up Bird Chronicle energy,” they nod.
Then the drama hits: someone deadpans “(2015)” and the Old News vs Still Worth Reading war erupts. Is a good story “expired” just because the calendar moved on? The community counter-programs the outrage with receipts: thoughtful follow-ups about Elton’s life and generosity, including a lovely Macleans piece and even a Practical Engineering video shout-out.
There’s also a reckoning with the original panic: police once feared a plot near major sports venues, and the tunnel’s rosary and poppy decorations sent imaginations spiraling. Today, most commenters side-eye the hysteria and see a kid from a tough block building a quiet place to breathe. Jokes land gentle: “plot twist — not a plot,” while the thread’s heart says: let the man dig, and let the story stand.
Key Points
- •A conservation officer discovered a hidden tunnel in northwest Toronto after noticing a mound of dirt.
- •The tunnel was about 10 m long and over 2 m high, with bracing, camouflage, lighting, underground wiring, a generator room, and a sump pump.
- •Police sought public assistance to identify the builder and noted items like a rosary and a Remembrance Day poppy inside.
- •Initial speculation linked the tunnel to potential threats to 2015 Pan Am Games venues at Rexall Centre and York University.
- •The builder was identified as Elton McDonald, a local construction worker, who dug the tunnel over nearly two years as a personal retreat.