Gordie Howe International Bridge officially open

Dignitaries from Caldwell First Nations, Essex County council and Windsor city council were on hand for the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge July 24. From left: Caldwell First Nations chief Nikki Van Oirschot, Tecumseh Deputy Mayor Joe Bachetti, Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy, Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey, Essex County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald, LaSalle Deputy Mayor Mike Akpata, Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara and Windsor city councillor Jim Morrison. Special to the RTT

Flags on the Gordie Howe International Bridge show where the the border is between Canada and the United States. A Canada-only opening ceremony was held July 24 to officially open the $6.4 billion international crossing with Premier Doug Ford, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson joining the Howe family among the speakers. Photo by Donna Tuckwell

The long-awaited new border crossing from Canada to the United States is officially open.

An opening ceremony was held last Friday on the Canadian side of the Gordie Howe International Bridge where federal, provincial and local dignitaries joined members of the Howe family in marking the occasion.

Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, said it is “more than a bridge” and is a major opportunity for workers, businesses and communities on both sides of the border.

“We are here to celebrate the Gordie Howe International Bridge, one of the most significant projects in North America,” said Robertson.

Robertson added $300 billion in trade goes through Windsor and Detroit annually. He said workers from both sides of the border helped get the 2.5-kilometre bridge completed.

“This bridge is a testament of what we can do when we work together,” said Robertson.

Robertson was the first of many to pay tribute to Gordie Howe, the legendary hockey player for whom the bridge is named. Premier Doug Ford also paid tribute to Howe as part of his remarks.

“His legacy will be here for well over 100 years,” Ford predicted.

Ford added the Gordie Howe International Bridge “will support millions of jobs on both sides of the border” and while the Canada-U.S. relations has had its challenges in recent years, Canadians and Americans are still friends overall.

“I believe Canadians and Americans are better when they work together,” he said. 

Ford added Prime Minister Mark Carney has always stood up for Ontario and Canada, adding that Ontario “is ready to respond to new American tariffs.”

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens thanked all the stakeholders, and said it is a once in a generation accomplishment.

“We are celebrating the momentous achievement which is the Gordie Howe International Bridge,” said Dilkens. “It is a marvel of engineering. It is a true thing of beauty.”

The $6.4 billion span has six lanes – three in each direction – and Dilkens touted the importance of trade to both nations. He also praised Carney for working to get the bridge “over the finish line.”“We want more trade, not less. We want more jobs, not fewer,” he said. 

Steve DeWitt, CEO of ACS Infrastructure, added engineering challenges are different now than they were years ago. He added the new bridge means more opportunities and said his firm was proud to be associated with the project.

Mark Wiseman, Canadian ambassador to the U.S., added his thanks, including the truck drivers who cross daily. Wiseman also touted what can happen when nations work together for a common purpose, noting the trade that goes back and forth.

Concluding the ceremony was Dr. Murray Howe, one of the sons of Gordie and Colleen Howe. He recreated a scene from Saskatchewan in 1966 where a “Gordie Howe Day” was held and the man dubbed “Mr. Hockey” invited his family on stage. Members of the Howe family all went on stage July 24, with Murray describing his family’s history in the area including his grandmother living for three years in Windsor before heading west.

The Howe family extended its gratitude, with Murray getting emotional when he showed his father in 2015 what the bridge would look like and where it would go. He recalled Gordie simply saying “that sounds pretty good to me.”   

Gordie Howe International Bridge officially open

By RTT Staff