The Manitoba Guild of English Handbell Ringers is a not for profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for Manitobans to further their development in the art of English Handbell Ringing.

We support the Handbell Musicians of Canada. Our members get exclusive access to provincial festivals, workshops, and local resources. Membership in this organization means reduced workshop rates, monthly e-mail updates, Ringer’s Roundtable newsletters, membership receipt, membership cards (optional), access to the consumable goods supply store and the opportunity to borrow handbell music.

History of MBGEHR

On April 8, 1995, in Starbuck, Manitoba, fourteen handbell choirs from southern Manitoba gathered to make music. Although the primary purpose of the event was to provide an opportunity for handbell enthusiasts to network and have fun, something bigger came out of it. At the gathering, the assembled people decided that a handbell guild should be formed. Rev. Ron Vert of Starbuck, was elected President of the newly-formed MANITOBA GUILD OF ENGLISH HANDBELL RINGERS (MBGEHR).

The MBGEHR’s mission is to provide “Opportunities for artistic development of Manitobans through the sharing, encouragement and appreciation of quality English Handbell Ringing.” The MBGEHR intends to fulfill their mission statement by promoting the exchange of ideas relating to the selection, arrangement and composition of handbell music and techniques of handbell ringing; sponsoring workshops; and disseminating information relevant to handbell musicians, conductors and composers.

The Manitoba Guild of English Handbell Ringers officially became part of the Handbell Guilds of Canada in 1996, thus becoming the link to join the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Thereafter, all National Conferences of the Handbell Guilds of Canada were referred to as THE RINGING LINK.

National Chairs of the Handbell Guilds of Canada have alternated between the member provinces as have the National Ringing Link Conferences. Morna-June Morrow became National Chair of HGC in 2000. Patsy Andrews-Vert and Ron Vert were Co-Chairs of the 3^rd National Ringing Link in 2002. In 2014, Patsy Andrews-Vert and Morna-June Morrow were Co-Chairs of the 7^th National Ringing Link and it was during this conference that Patsy Andrews-Vert became National Chair of HGC.