Mr. Hockey is officially Mr. Bridge, but Detroit Red Wings icon Gordie Howe was more than just the name on the bridge as the Gordie Howe International Bridge opened for crossings this week.
He was a collectible keepsake.
Each of the 7,500 people crossing the bridge on its first day of business was receiving an old-style postcard. The front of the card depicts Howe skating in his Red Wings uniform. Over his left shoulder is an embossed red No. 9.
To his left is a photo of his namesake bridge. The card features the signature “Mr. Hockey.”
On the back, written in French and English, Canada’s official languages, is the following inscription: Opening Day. July 27, 2026. History is written in this moment.
You are among the first travellers to cross a new signature gateway that connects communities, strengthens economies and creates new opportunities for generations to come.
Howe Family Represents at Opening Ceremony
Members of the Howe family were in attendance during the ceremonial launch of the bridge on Monday. A car containing members of the Howe family was the first to travel across the international span.
“The Howe family is so grateful that our father and mother’s legacy of love continues to live on through the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge,” the family said in a statement. “They lived to celebrate humanity, hope, and human connection.
“They are no doubt smiling down upon us all, and we are humbled by the magnificence and magnitude of this moment. ”
The bridge spans the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The six-lane, cable-stayed bridge features a main span of 853 metres. It’s the longest of its kind in North America, and extends approximately 2.5 kilometres.
The crossing also includes modern ports of entry on both sides of the border. It features advanced screening and border management technologies. Together, they are creating one of the most advanced and secure land border crossings in North America.