About Us
The BC Guild of English Handbell Ringers began in Abbotsford in 1993. Our Constitution and By-laws were approved at the Annual General Meeting in Vancouver in 1994 and we were incorporated as a non-profit organization under the B.C. Societies Act on January 18, 1995.
The objectives of the BCGEHR are:
- to bring together handbell choirs from all parts of British Columbia
- to encourage the formation and support of new choirs on an inter-generational basis
- to sponsor workshops for ringers and directors
- to publish a regular newsletter, Quarternotes
- to offer a variety of programs and services to support our members
- To encourage all BCGEHR members to engage with and become members of the national handbell organization, Handbell Musicians of Canada (HMC).
Handbell Musicians of Canada (HMC), our incorporated national organization, features a revised model of membership and a modernized governance structure. The individual membership format makes HMC open to ALL Canadian handbell musicians, offering true national representation. Membership in HMC provides each individual the opportunity to be engaged in the national and international handbell communities, including attending workshop, festivals and symposium events.
BCGEHR offers a variety of services to its members, including:
- Read and Ring workshops focusing on a variety of themes
- On-site “mini-workshops” and regional workshops to meet the needs of individual choirs
- Annual General Meeting and biennial provincial festival “Spring Ring”
- The quarterly newsletter as a forum for publicizing upcoming events, and articles about ringing, handbells and handchimes, music, updates from our sister guilds, and other news.
- Voluntary participation in our music lending library
- Bell loan program
- Chime loan program
- Endowment Fund grants
- Exposure to music and supplies
