Please read before joining

Good company. Shared responsibility.

We want people to feel welcome and to understand the run they are choosing. This page explains what Devon Deer volunteers do, what participants remain responsible for and the risks that come with recreational running.

Dogs in the herd

Dog-friendly. Space-friendly too.

As of August 2026, dogs have run with Devon Deer since the club began without a reported incident. Keeping that record takes the right leash, enough space and a handler who reads both the dog and the group.

For your dog’s first run with the group, tell the Run Host and begin at the back or on the outside edge of the middle pack. Give your dog time to settle before moving closer, and do not weave through the pack.

The handler remains responsible for the dog’s control and conduct. Not every runner has the same comfort level around dogs, so making dogs welcome includes protecting people’s space. If you use a service animal or need an accommodation, message ahead so we can discuss safe positioning without treating the animal as a pet.

City of Fredericton trail rules City animal-control bylaw

When the Deer are actually deer

Real deer have right of way.

White-tailed deer are the deer most likely to appear around Fredericton. Seeing one near the Wolastoq trails is a lovely bonus, never a promise.

If a deer appears, slow down, quietly alert the runners around you and leave it a clear way out.

When the trail allows, aim for about 30 m of space, roughly three school-bus lengths. That is a wildlife-viewing best practice, not a precise measurement runners are expected to make. Never approach, follow, surround, feed or touch a deer. Skip the close-up wildlife selfie. Keep dogs closely leashed and move farther away, especially when a fawn is present.

The herd can wait. Wildlife should never have to squeeze past us.

New Brunswick: do not feed wildlife Parks Canada wildlife-viewing tips

Route inclusion

Wheels belong in the conversation.

What we have already seen

Families have joined Devon Deer outings with a running stroller. On some outings, children have also stayed with their own parent or legal guardian on a bike or scooter. Please message before bringing wheels so we can talk through the current route, crossings, group size, conditions and safe positioning.

The under-19 rule still applies: the parent or legal guardian stays with and supervises the child for the full activity and remains responsible for the child and equipment.

What we have not tested yet

No wheelchair user has yet joined a Devon Deer group run, so we will not describe the usual loop as wheelchair-tested. If you use a wheelchair or another mobility device, we would genuinely welcome a conversation.

Share only the practical barrier and what might help. Together we can review the meeting point, surfaces, slopes, bridge access, curb cuts, width, crossings, pace, distance and volunteer support available before you decide.

We cannot promise every adjustment or individual coverage at every run, but we want to learn and work toward a safe, practical option with you.

Adaptive-equipment resource (external)

Para NB independently operates a provincial adaptive sport and recreation equipment-loan service. Requests must be made at least one month ahead, and availability is handled by Para NB. An equipment loan does not mean our route has been tested for that device.

View Para NB’s Equipment Loan Service

Message us about route access

What the herd provides

A route, volunteer roles and reasonable care.

For regular runs, a volunteer Run Host explains the plan, names a fronty and sweeper, identifies the two planned road regroup stops and completes a finishing headcount. Significant weather or route changes are posted on Strava when practical.

These practices help a social group stay connected. They are not certified coaching, medical screening, traffic control, childcare, transportation, one-to-one supervision or a guarantee that a route, road, bridge or trail is hazard-free.

The club promise is “All paces welcome, nobody runs alone.” It describes our group practice when volunteer coverage is available. It is not a promise of continuous individual supervision, medical assistance or emergency rescue.

Adult Devon Deer runners regrouping on a Fredericton riverside path. — Photo: Devon Deer Run Club

Interpersonal safety is not an assumed risk

The route has hazards. Harassment is not one of them.

Choosing to run does not mean accepting unwanted attention, retaliation or misuse of a volunteer role. Those are conduct concerns, not inherent running risks.

Read the community standards

Voluntary assumption of risk

Your decision to participate.

Running and trail running involve physical exertion and ordinary or inherent risks. These include uneven or slippery surfaces, roots and rocks, traffic, intersections, bicycles, dogs and other animals, other trail users, darkness, heat, cold, ice, storms, poor air quality, wildlife, falls, collisions, getting lost, delayed assistance, overexertion, illness, injury, property loss and, in rare cases, serious injury or death.

By choosing to join a Devon Deer activity after reading this notice, you acknowledge that participation is voluntary, understand these risks and accept responsibility for deciding whether the activity is appropriate for you that day.

Your responsibilities

Assess your health, fitness, experience and the conditions before starting.
Follow traffic laws, posted rules and reasonable route or safety directions.
Wear suitable clothing and footwear and carry any water, light, medication or identification you need.
If you use a familiar personal warm-up or stretching routine, complete it before the listed departure time. Devon Deer does not lead, prescribe or assess individual preparation routines.
Control your own pace, watch the route and stop or leave if continuing feels unsafe.
If you bring a dog, keep it leashed and under your control, respect other runners’ space, clean up and remain responsible for its conduct.
Tell the Run Host if you leave early so the finishing headcount is accurate.

Pace and support

All running paces are welcome. The standard road group is currently designed for people who can run most of about 6.5 km, with two planned regroup stops.

If you prefer regular run-walk intervals or need another accommodation, message the club before attending. Describe the barrier and what might help. You do not need to share a diagnosis. We will look for a workable adjustment with you without promising volunteer coverage that is not available.

Anyone under 19 must attend with their own parent or legal guardian, who personally accompanies and supervises them for the full activity.

Emergencies

Call 911 for an emergency. Do not assume that a volunteer has first-aid training, medical equipment or reliable mobile service. Volunteers may provide good-faith help while professional assistance is requested.

Participants are responsible for their own medical, accident, travel and property coverage and should confirm what their personal policies cover.

Liability notice

To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of New Brunswick and Canada, a participant accepts the ordinary and inherent risks of recreational running and agrees not to hold Devon Deer or its volunteer organizers, Run Hosts, fronties, sweepers, greeters, photographers or helpers responsible for harm caused solely by those risks.

Nothing on this page excludes a responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded. This notice does not create insurance, guarantee safety or replace an individually accepted waiver prepared for Devon Deer’s actual circumstances.

Please decide with the full picture. Devon Deer’s volunteer practices and this public notice are intended to make participation clearer, but they are not insurance or a guarantee against every accident, loss or legal claim. If personal medical, accident, travel or property coverage matters to you, confirm your own policy before taking part.

New Brunswick references: Rule 9, Unincorporated Associations and the Volunteer Emergency Aid Act. These references are provided for transparency, not as legal advice.

Questions before a run? Message Devon Deer on Instagram.

Last updated August 20, 2026.