Fall/Winter 2025 Newsletter
- imews6
- Dec 1, 2025
- 8 min read
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Membership
Our sincere thanks to those who recently joined or renewed their annual RORA membership. Membership renewals are due January 1, 2026.
RORA is YOUR community voice and we advocate for the health and safety of our beloved Royal Orchard neighbourhood.
Joining/renewing is easy. Your $20 membership fee can be paid by e-transfer to: royalorchardra@gmail.com. Please include your name and address on the e-transfer notes. New members, please fill out the membership form on our website (www.royalorchardra.ca) so we can make sure you get all our emails and notifications. If you have made changes to your contact information, please email us at the same account.
We will also accept cash/cheques. Please make cheques payable to Royal Orchard Ratepayers’ Association and deliver or mail your payment to: A. Young, 18 Banquo Road, Thornhill, ON, L3T 3H1. Tell your neighbours how important it is that they join us! For more information, please check out our website at www.royalorchra.ca
Yonge North Subway Extension
Town Hall with Metrolinx
On Monday, November 24, 2025, RORA held a Town Hall with Metrolinx. Thank you to the 100 plus residents who attended – at times it was standing room only.
The Town Hall was skillfully moderated by Councillor Keith Irish. Steve Collins, Executive VP, and his senior team at Metrolinx provided an update on the Yonge North Subway Extension project. Representatives from the tunnelling contractors, North End Connectors, also attended. Metrolinx’s presentation can be accessed here: https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1764082862/Images/Metrolinx/YNSE/RORA_Townhall_Deck_clean.pdf
In response to residents’ questions/concerns regarding tunnel depths, noise and vibration and Emergency Exit Building construction, Metrolinx provided the following:
Tunnel Depths
In the Royal Orchard community, the bottom of the tunnels – where trains pass over the tracks – will be at least 21 metres below the surface. This minimum 21 m depth is maintained from Yonge Street to approximately where the existing railway corridor meets the southern boundary of Holy Cross Cemetery.
Where the route crosses below Pomona Creek, beyond where homes are located, the tunnels will still be at a depth of at least 14 metres where trains pass over the tracks. This slightly shallower depth is because the ground level is lower than the surrounding land in the neighborhood. From here, it will gradually rise to meet the surface rail corridor just south of Langstaff Road.
Noise and Vibration
During the construction of the Advance Tunnels, Metrolinx requires noise and vibration monitoring to adhere to specified noise and vibration limits (ex/ 38dBA) in residential areas. Vibration may be at 0.15 mm/s. It will take two days for the Tunnel Boring Machine to pass through each property. Only rubber-tired Multi-Service Vehicles will be used to transport equipment during tunnelling so as to minimize noise and vibration. During construction, conveyor belts will be used to remove soil and debris. The operation of the conveyor belt system falls within specified noise and vibration limits
Using floating slab technology, once operational, noise levels from the subway in homes in the Royal Orchard neighborhood are no louder than 30 dBA and vibration levels inside a single-family home are no more than 0.05 mm/s.
The twin Tunnel Boring Machines have been ordered, and Metrolinx anticipates tunnelling
work to begin in 2027. Preparations at the launch shaft at Langstaff Road have already begun.
Resident, Sam Cuda, raised a number of concerns regarding the 200 burial sites located close to the tunnelling and the vibration impact on these graves. Metrolinx committed to following up with these concerns as well as several other issues raised by residents. RORA will provide residents with these follow ups.
Emergency Exit Buildings (EEB)
EEB 5: 111 Inverlochy Blvd
An emergency exit building will be built on a portion of this property. An above-ground building will be located near the northeast corner, facing Bay Thorn Drive. Metrolinx will minimize tree removals and restore the area
with new plantings after construction. Nearby community members will be notified in advance of any planned work.
EEB 6: 130 Kirk Drive
An emergency exit building will be built at 130 Kirk Drive. Two neighbouring properties – 128 and 132 Kirk Drive – will be used to support construction, including storage of
equipment and materials. All three homes on those properties will be demolished.
Construction on EEB 5 and 6 will be part of the Stations, Rails and Systems (SSR) contract. The Request for Qualifications for this contract was issued in October 2025. The precise staging and equipment laydown locations at these EEBs will be determined after the SRS contract is awarded. Metrolinx noted at the Town Hall that they will be using a less disruptive mining approach to these EEBs.
The Qs and As from the Metrolinx EEB Open House held in September 2025 can be found here: https://assets.metrolinx.com/image/upload/v1761847048/Images/Metrolinx/YNSE/EEB_Open_House_QAs_ENG.pdf
Royal Orchard Station
Metrolinx has confirmed that they have expropriated property at 7967 Yonge Street for the construction of Royal Orchard Station. As many residents are aware, this is the location of the TD Canada Trust Bank. This branch office has been closed since December 2024 as a result of fire damage.
Community Liaison Committee
As the YNSE project moves into the next phase, Metrolinx will be establishing a Construction Liaison Committee for the launch shaft and Royal Orchard community areas in early 2026, and will no longer be convening the existing Royal Orchard Community Liaison Committee. The membership of this new construction liaison committee will be similar to that of the Royal Orchard Community Liaison Committee, with modifications to reflect the larger geographical area. And, as this is a construction liaison committee focused on tunnelling activities, Metrolinx’s tunnelling contractor, North End Connectors, will play an active role in providing construction updates. Metrolinx will reach out to potential members in early 2026. CLC materials and minutes will be posted publicly.
Development News
Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) for Langstaff East
Markham Council has been asked to support a request for a Minister’s Zoning Order for 21.4 hectares (52.9 acres) of land located in Langstaff east: lands east of Cedar Avenue, south of Highway 407, west of Bayview Avenue and north of Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Thornhill’s Langstaff Gateway.
Markham Council’s Development Services Committee considered the request at its October 14, 2025 meeting. With three members absent, the vote to support the request was narrowly passed 5 to 4. The staff report (from that meeting) can be viewed here:
The recording of the meeting can be found here:
This MZO request proposes to “double the density” from the approved Secondary Plan for Langstaff east from 10,064 to 19,773 residential units. It also proposes to “increase the maximum building height permissions.”
This MZO in addition to the previously approved Enhanced Minister's Zoning Orders for the lands west of Cedar would bring 99, 773 new residents to the Langstaff area. This area will become the second densest place on earth, just behind the Dharavi slums of Mumbai made famous by the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire.
The MZO request is scheduled to be discussed at Markham Council on December 16, 2025. If you share our concerns about this level of density and its impacts to our surrounding communities, please join Councillor Irish in opposing this MZO:
Consider addressing Council in-person or via Zoom at the meeting on December 16th. You can do so by notifying the City Clerk in advance with an email to clerkspublic@markham.ca. Each deputant is allowed up to five minutes to speak.
Council also accepts written submissions. Send your written submission to clerkspublic@markham.ca by 10:00 a.m. on the meeting day.
Additional Residential Units
An Additional Residential Unit (ARU) is a self-contained dwelling with its own kitchen,
bathroom, and private entrance. An ARU can be located within the main house (e.g.,
basement apartment), in a separate unit above a detached garage, or in a detached
accessory building on the same property. Compliance with the Ontario Building Code, Heritage and Conservation Authorities Acts (where applicable), site servicing capacity, parking, setbacks, height, and lot coverage regulations are still required for all ARUs.
In December 2023, Markham Council passed a resolution directing staff to prepare proposed
amendments to the City’s official plan and zoning by-laws to permit up to three ARUs
(up to four residential units total), with some exceptions, as part of the City’s Housing
Accelerator Fund Action Plan.
In January 2024, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation approved the City of Markham’s Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan, providing $58.8 million to support seven initiatives (including ARUs) aimed at increasing housing supply and diversity.
Two public meetings have been held on the ARU proposals including the Proposed Official Plan and Zoning by-law Amendments. While there have been public concerns regarding impact on current infrastructure and communities, there is acknowledgement that ARUs could improve housing availability and affordability.
This item is tracking for review by Markham Council on December 16, 2025. If you have concerns, we encourage you to make at deputation or provide a written submission. Contact the Clerk at: clerkspublic@markham.ca.
2025 Outdoor Christmas Carolling - Sunday December 7th from 5pm-7pm
The Heitzman House Board of Directors invites you to kick off the holiday season and join us for an evening of cocoa, candy canes and carolling! The refreshments start at 5pm and the Upper Canada Chorus begins the sing-along at 5:30pm. A very special guest will be arriving at 7pm from the North Pole and will be available for photos inside the holiday decorated Heintzman House fireplace lounge (135 Bay Thorn Drive, Thornhill).
Seating is available for the first 100 people. Dress warmly as it is an outdoor event! A perfect festive outing for families, friends and all who love holiday carols! It is truly a magical event and not to be missed! Toy donations and non-perishable food donations are welcomed and will be delivered to the Fire Station and the Markham Food Bank on behalf of the Royal Orchard community.
Heintzman House Craft Show
The 53rd Annual Heintzman House Craft Show (November 8 and 9, 2025) was another great
success! The first snow storm of the season on the Sunday didn't slow down the crowds attending the vibrant marketplace filled with creativity and craftsmanship, where over 40 talented artisans showcased a curated selection of handmade treasures -- from award-winning jams and honey, beautiful ceramics, and indulgent cookies, to unique jewelry, holiday and home décor, cozy knits, whimsical children’s items, wood crafted pieces, artisan soaps, and all-natural body care. There was truly something for everyone.
SKATES FOR THE NORTH
Would you like to support hockey programs in the Canadian territories? SKATES FOR THE NORTH has successfully collected and distributed complete sets of equipment and extra hockey-related items to four northern communities in Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Labrador.
This year’s equipment drive is complete but you can still help by:
Purchasing a SKATES for the NORTH puzzle for $30. Net proceeds will go to purchase equipment and support hockey programming in the North;
Making a cash donation toward the 2026 Equipment Drive.
Contact Mia at skatesforthenorth@hotmail.com for more information.
Donate or pay for puzzles by E-transfer to: skatesforthenorth@hotmail.com
Include your name and location in the E-transfer. Actual shipping costs will be added, if commercial shipping is required.
The 2025 Shoebox Project
Sam and Nancy Cuda are once again hosting a collection for The Shoebox Project, a non-profit charity that delivers gift-filled shoeboxes to women experiencing homelessness in the GTA. Gift-filled shoeboxes can be dropped off between November 16 to December 13 at Royal LePage Your Community Brokerage Thornhill Office (8000 Yonge Street) Mondays to Fridays from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. Information on appropriate items to fill the shoeboxes can be found at: https://www.shoeboxproject.ca/
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