Spring 2025 Newsletter
- imews6
- May 7
- 6 min read
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Huge Thanks To You All!
For Making the Royal Orchard Park Community Clean Up Another Success
RORA kicked off Earth Day with its annual Royal Orchard Park Community Clean Up on April 27, 2025. Together we collected over 22 bags of garbage. While this is an improvement from last year, we are still finding too many bags of dog poop, snack wrappers, household and yard waste, even a truck tire wheel and a tent!
We thank all of you who joined us for a great afternoon. We enjoyed meeting you over hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and rock painting! Special recognition goes to our Councillor Keith Irish who attended our Community Clean Up and others that day!
Several people who were visiting our neighbourhood commended us on our community spirit and our commitment to park stewardship. As you can see from the above, RORA’s Directors (both past and present) will go the extra mile! Be Royal Orchard proud!
Development News
Yonge Corridor Secondary Plan Study
On April 14, 2025, RORA attended the City of Markham special Developmental Services Committee Workshop on the Yonge Corridor Secondary Plan Study – Interim Report.
The Study area is bound by Yonge Street to the west, the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery to the north, Dudley Avenue and Inverlochy Boulevard to the east and Steeles Avenue to the south. The Presentation and the video of the Workshop can be found here: https://pub-markham.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=e85c6cc5-f071-4779-9c45-128fbd5818b2&Agenda=Agenda&lang=English
Ostensibly, the “Workshop” was to provide the consultants, who have been hired to conduct this study, the opportunity to respond to councillors’ concerns regarding the Interim Report. While the public could observe the proceedings, no deputations were permitted.
Below are renderings of the current Yonge and Royal Orchard intersection and the proposed/projected Yonge and Royal Orchard intersection as set out in the Interim Report:
Our Councillor Keith Irish raised numerous concerns regarding the 55 story heights and densities; the abysmal lack of green space; traffic and mobility impacts; the viability of existing water, wastewater and stormwater systems; and the asymmetry with the Vaughan side of Yonge Street opposite to Royal Orchard Blvd.
The consultants acknowledged considerable upgrades in infrastructure would be necessary as the existing infrastructure is already at capacity. As set out in the consultants’ presentation, there would be no new parkland for the Royal Orchard area. The densities provided in the Interim Report would bring an additional 58,000 new residents to the Yonge Corridor Secondary Plan study area. The current population for ALL of Ward 1 is approximately 45,000 residents.
As the Yonge Corridor Secondary Plan Study moves forward, it is more important than ever that YOU become involved and raise your voice with RORA and support Councillor Irish. Subscribe to Your Yonge Corridor at https://yourvoicemarkham.ca/yongecorridor to receive updates and notifications of public meetings. Be informed, attend the public meetings, join us to fight for welcoming, liveable, sustainable communities – not vertical sprawl!
Yonge North Subway Extension
Community Liaison Committee (CLC)
RORA attended the recent Royal Orchard CLC meeting on April 23, 2025. It has been almost a year since our last CLC meeting. The agenda focused on Emergency Exit Buildings (EEBs) and the planned sequencing of work. We will post the Minutes and presentation materials on the RORA website as soon as they become available from Metrolinx.
EEBs allow for the safe evacuation of passengers; each train at full capacity can hold 1,000 people. An EEB consists of a surface building that connects the underground egress passage and stair shaft from the tunnels. There must be an EEB every 762 metres (stations count) along the subway route. There are six for the YNSE, with four in Markham, and two (EEB-5 and 6) within the Royal Orchard community. Metrolinx confirmed the locations for EEB-5 and EEB-6.
EEB-5 will be at 111 Inverlochy Blvd, near Donalbain Cresent and Bay Thorn Drive. RORA shared the concerns of residents within the Donalbain area with the construction standards, the impacts to their homes, and the health and safety impacts. RORA noted residents’ concerns during last summer’s geotechnical drilling: continuously idling diesel equipment, air quality issues, and the noise and vibration from sonic drilling. We pointed out that many of the residents’ interactions with contractors last summer were contrary to Metrolinx’s commitment to be “a good neighbour”. Metrolinx will consider residents’ concerns in the construction design and planning of the EEBs.
EEB-6 will be at 128 Kirk Drive. Metrolinx has acquired the properties at 128 and 130 Kirk Drive. The need for the additional property is to provide CN with an access road to their right of way. CLC members questioned CN’s need for an access route when they have not had one for many years and raised concerns with the access route situated across from St Anthony’s Catholic Elementary School and the proximity to young children. CLC members also questioned why the new access route could not be provided at Langstaff Road or at Green Lane.
Metrolinx noted that logistics precluded the viability of these locations. Metrolinx stated that the access route will likely be used infrequently and only by pickup trucks. The access to the rail right of way will be fenced off with safety railing.
Metrolinx is planning an Open House in June 2025 at their Community Office to provide residents with more information on EEBs. Subject matter experts will be at the Open House to answer residents’ questions. Stay tuned for more information.
Advanced Tunnelling Contract
Metrolinx provided a brief update. Of the three proponents who were screened in during the Request for Qualifications process, two teams have now submitted proposals to design and build the YNSE tunnels. The two consortia are:
North End Connectors:
Applicant Leads: Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Ghella Canada Ltd.
Construction Prime Team Members: Aecon Infrastructure Management Inc., Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas Canada Ltd., Ghella Canada Ltd.
Design Prime Team Members: EXP Services Inc., TYPSA Inc.
Toronto-York Tunnel Connectors:
Applicant Leads: Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc., Green Infrastructure Partners
Construction Prime Team Members: Acciona Infrastructure Canada Inc., Green Infrastructure Partners
Design Prime Team Members: Hatch Ltd., Parsons Inc.
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx are evaluating submissions, and the contract is expected to be awarded later in 2025. The IO website states: “A fairness monitor is overseeing the entire procurement process.” Many of us have questions about who gets to be a “fairness monitor” and the process that would be followed.
Heintzman House 2025 Art Show
Congratulations to the Heintzman House (HH) Board for organizing another brilliant Art Show (April 25 to 27, 2025)! There were more than 30 artists and over 1,300 visitors. The HH Board received wonderful feedback from artists and visitors. Works from all price points sold ($30 to $3,000) – truly something for everyone. New artists have expressed interest in joining the show next year. There were generous donations for the Markham Food Bank which were matched by the HH Board. Visitors were given impromptu tours of the beautiful historic house by HH Board members.
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.
How can you help?
1. Gather gently used hockey equipment (protectivegear and sticks) and contact Mia Poscente to arrange pick up/drop off of your donation;
2. Be a SKATES for the NORTH ambassador, spreading the word to your hockey people and collecting donations for the 2025 Equipment Drive;
3. Purchase a SKATES for the NORTH puzzle for $30.
Net proceeds will go to purchase equipment and support hockey programming in the North;
4. Make a cash donation toward the 2025 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.
RORA Membership
If you found this newsletter informative and our work of value, please join RORA or renew your membership. Membership is $20 annually. Joining or renewing is easy. Go to: https://www.royalorchardra.ca/join
Together we are stronger!
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