If you’re out and about in Kelowna this weekend and see a bunch of people on a roof holding wine glasses, don’t be alarmed. Instead, why not head over and join the fun?
On Saturday, April 13, carpenters and other tradespeople will climb atop the roof of a new townhome at Green Square and make a toast as part of Kelowna’s first Richtfest. The traditional German house blessing is designed to celebrate the hard work that goes into building a new home, and herald prosperity for its owners.
The Richtfest event at Green Square, a new community in the Lower Mission, was the brainchild of Troika Developments and CorWest Builders, whose construction manager and new co-owner Andreas Hayer moved to Canada from Germany five years ago.
“This is a tradition that symbolizes the blessing of the trades to the homeowner,” explains Hayer, a master craftsman who emigrated from Germany to frame homes for CorWest, which partnered with Troika to build Green Square. “The Richtfest is a symbolic occasion which represents how we construct in Europe – through trust, relationship and quality – all things I bring to my construction work and philosophies here in Canada.”
Tradespeople will make a toast atop townhome roof for traditional German blessing
During a Richtfest, the construction manager blesses the home with a speech called a Richtspurch, and toasts the tradespeople who built the home. Everyone in attendance participates in the toast and congratulates the new homeowners. A bottle of wine is often broken across the entrance to christen the home and ensure plentiful food and prosperity within its walls.
When Troika Developments’ CEO Renee Wasylyk heard about Richtfest, and the meaning behind it, she decided to undertake the tradition in Canada on all her company’s projects with CorWest.
“The Richtfest symbolizes so much of what we at Troika stand for. The quality of workmanship, the dedication to our homeowners and community, and the impact on the local economy through employment are all captured in this unique and meaningful celebration,” she says.
The Richtfest at Green Square is open to the public and takes place from 1-5 pm on Saturday, April 13 at 3626 Mission Springs Drive.
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