Quite a few years ago, three children turned up at my office complaining of an overly strict father (the kids were not allowed outside of the house except for school or church, and were beaten frequently with 1x2s). Turned out that their father was a religious prepper who had dug a tunnel into a high river bank for a hidey-hole and gun cache in anticipation of the days preceding the second coming. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Toronto tunnel is the same sort of thing.
That, or it’s York U student housing.
It reminds me of the tunnels they found in Washington, DC in the 1920s. It that case, they were dug by a Smithsonian entomologist as his hobby, they were really elaborate: Hidden Tunnels, Bugs, and Bigamy: A Strange and True D.C. Story – the location
It’s a training facility for underminers.
Sometimes it just starts with a few beers…
No, seriously! Myself and friends have created similar chambers in remote(ish) areas like the Don Valley. Though, never to such an immense scale.
First day, it’s all about the laughs. Second and third day one finds themselves swiping an old skid or two for support, after an entire summer, one has acquired a generator, power cords, light fixtures, etc.
We had one hole with three full-size couches, power stolen from the municipal lines done with the aid of a former linesman, now turned crazy drunk guy, a small black and white tv, a fireplace and a big card table. It was awesome. We used to chill there every weekend until somebody found it, and decided to defecate on two of the couches. 8( Game over, Rover.
I don’t think it’s some big scary ISIS conspiracy, probably started as a joke, and grew into a monster. “Idle hands…” and all that jazz.
I’d have gone with that theory myself, except it looks so goddam utilitarian. If it was just a bunch of students doing it for a lark, or for a secret clubhouse, you’d expect more frivolities in the construction - more a secret bunker than a featureless tunnel.
I may have a guess, but you’re not going to like it…
First… about there being no dirt…
Its Canada! You take your shoes off before you come into tunnel! Where were you raised, in a barn?
As for the purpose of the tunnel… and the Rosary…
[spoiler]… well OK. Its Toronto during Lent and… You See…
[Spoiler]… NOBODY expects The Spanish Inquisition!!!
It also supports the theory that it was an outside job, given that absolutely no one has come forward to say that they were sorry.
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Excuse the Hijack, but
That is a fascinating story!
And for the lawyers on the Dope, check out: “(For an even deeper look into the craziness of Dyar’s personal life, check out this court case filed by his second wife, in which she attempts to divorce the fake husband created to hide her relationship with Dyar: Allen v. Allen, 193 P. 539.)”
It must have been difficult to sue a fake person-especially one with the same name as yourself. But apparently that is what was necessary. There must be a legal story behind that… 
I’ll see your crazy tunnel, and raise you one Damanhur (number two on that list).
Canadian smugglers are too polite to go directly under the border?
Never blame Logic when Molson will do. 
I wonder if he was descended from Liverpool’s (UK) Joseph Williamson?
Turns out it was going to be a man cave, and wasn’t raccoons at all.
I figured as much. What young man hasn’t fantasized about digging or building a secret hangout? It must be in our genes.
An underground man cave sounds pretty awesome. But they should have built it on their own property.
I have thought about digging a hole with a back hoe. Then build an underground hang out with cinder blocks. 8 x12 ft would be about right. Back fill the dirt. It would also be my storm shelter when the tornado sirens go off.
So the Molsons explanation was correct. 
When I was about 10, a friend and I dug a hole in a field adjacent to my house. We covered the top with plywood, and then put sod on top of the plywood. Next we dug a tunnel entrance to the “fort” and had a plywood cover for the entrance.
It was awesome.
…or Labatt Cave…
From that article:
Canada, ladies and gentlemen.
OK, I’m a girl, but that’s a pretty creepy “man cave”. Who does this? Well, other than 2 Canadian 20-somethings, that is.