The holiday season is a time to reflect on the year past and the people who shaped our lives. This year, we are proud to share the remarkable story of Jayne Griffor, a labor foreman on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, whose path is marked by courage, heart and profound resilience.
Before joining the project team, Jayne spent nearly two decades serving Metro Detroit as a dedicated nurse, following in her mother’s and grandmother’s footsteps. She cared for patients through long nights, busy holidays, and challenging seasons – including the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I loved being a nurse,” Jayne shares. “But I was getting tired of getting burnt out.”
As Jayne considered a new chapter in her career, she was drawn back to the world her late husband, Phillip, cherished. He was a skilled carpenter and was tragically killed on a Detroit construction site on December 4, 2002. Philip was 23. Jayne was just 22 years old, suddenly faced with raising their two young sons on her own.
Determined to honour his memory, Jayne replaced her hospital scrubs for a hard hat and entered the construction industry with a purpose and a desire to build something meaningful – both literally and figuratively.
Jayne has been an integral part of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project team for the past four and a half years. She started as a flagger before becoming the only female labor foreman on one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America. For her, this role is a continuation of Phillip’s legacy and an opportunity to instill in her sons a deep respect for their father’s pride in the skilled trades.
“This is once-in-a-lifetime,” Jayne says. “For me to come out here so early in my career and be a part of it, and see and do everything I have, it’s amazing. I’m very fortunate and I’ve even had the chance to work alongside my sons.”
Jayne’s oldest son, Phillip Jr, is an estimator with Motor City Electric, a sub contractor on the project. Her youngest son, Anthony, also worked on the project as a member of Laborers Local 1191 in Detroit. Anthony is now married and recently welcomed a baby boy named Lincoln, continuing the family’s legacy with pride.
As Jayne helps build a bridge that will connect two countries, she is also building a personal bridge between her past and her family’s future.
Her message to anyone considering a new path is a lesson passed down from her grandfather.
“You only get one chance at life, one go-around. Meet as many people as you can. Learn as many new experiences as you can. You can always leave it, but if you never try, you don’t know.”
During this season of reflection and gratitude, the project team celebrates Jayne’s resilience and the inspiration she brings to our entire workforce. Her story reminds us that the Gordie Howe International Bridge is supported by extraordinary people with strength, hope and determination.
