This spring, Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority’s (WDBA) Corporate Affairs and External Relations team received three awards from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Connecting the Gordie Howe International Bridge
The Communications Team received both an OVATION Award of Excellence from IABC Toronto on May 8, 2025, and a Virtuoso Award of Excellence from IABC London on June 18, 2025, for its “Connecting the Gordie Howe International Bridge” video.
Recognized in the Audio/Visual category, the team was commended for its comprehensive strategy — which included a detailed communications plan, storyboard and work schedule to highlight construction completion of the bridge deck. The video captured the momentous connection of the two sides of the bridge deck over the Detroit River in June 2024, officially establishing the Gordie Howe International Bridge as an international crossing.
“2024 was a year of incredible progress for the Gordie Howe International Bridge. I’m grateful to have one of our biggest construction achievements recognized by IABC,” says Heather Grondin, Chief Relations Officer at WDBA. “The video represents years of meticulous planning, engineering expertise and hard work by thousands of people. It captures history being made, and it’s an honour to share it with the public.”
Virtuoso judges praised the video’s filming, editing and interviews, describing it as “visually stunning.” They also highlighted its “emotional storytelling,” calling the video “a great symbol of what can be accomplished when we work together.”
The award-winning video currently has over 113,000 views.
Commemorative Art Commission
On June 10, 2025, The Stakeholder and Community Relations Team received an IABC Gold Quill Award – the only awards program that honours communicators worldwide.
The team was recognized with an Award of Merit in the Community Relations category for its consultation and engagement approach in support of the commemorative art commission Make a Joyful Noise, a free-standing sculpture by contemporary artist Jordan Sook. The piece honours the region’s role as a destination for freedom-seekers of African descent leaving behind slavery and oppression by travelling the Underground Railroad to Canada.
The award submission highlighted WDBA’s consultation with descendants of freedom seekers, whose knowledge and family histories played a vital role in inspiring the art concept. WDBA staff worked closely with organizations and offered opportunities to collect feedback from local members of the Black, African and Caribbean diaspora and broader Windsor-Essex community. The commission also involves a mentorship component, through which Sook is working with artist Chidera Ikewibe.
“The Gordie Howe International Bridge is more than an infrastructure project,” adds Grondin. “This prestigious award validates the team’s efforts to engage with stakeholders, community members and descendants of freedom seekers to recognize the region’s history in a meaningful way.”
One judge commented “Preserving our history while driving the future can be difficult. Congratulations on navigating this well and creating a long-lasting memory for all those who visit the Gordie Howe International Bridge.”
This is not the first time the team has been recognized for its communications efforts. In 2024, WDBA received two Virtuoso Awards for its “Completing Tower Construction for the Gordie Howe International Bridge” video – including the top honour of the Best of the Best Award – as well as a Canada-wide Silver Leaf Award of Merit.
