With a name like Elton McDonald, Toronto’s once-mysterious tunnel builder may have a head start at parlaying his unique hobby into a new life. The self-effacing young man who quietly fulfilled a childhood dream of building a tunnel for himself and friends is finding celebrity among the media. Is there a niche for this type of work? Elton has been interviewed by the Toronto Sun and then this morning by Kiss 92.5 Radio. “I just want people to know that I meant no harm at all,” McDonald told the Sun. “It was not meant as a bad thing.” In fact, since he began working in construction at age 17, he said it was his “dream” to build something like that. He built the underground hideaway on land adjacent to his family’s home right near York University.“It was just something I always wanted to do,” he said. “I knew I could do it. It was kind of a fun project for me and some friends.” McDonald projects a sweet innocence that obviously charmed the police. No matter what they say now. cops were quite concerned about this unexplained chamber. After meeting the builder, it seemed police were prepared to take the secret of McDonald’s name to their grave. It is nice for the City and sober-sided publications like The South Bayview Bulldog to find a pleasant dreamer like Mr. McDonald behind the curtain.
