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.

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

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.

“Nobody runs alone” 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: Maureen O’Brien Daigle and Matthew Baker

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.
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.

For stronger protection: Devon Deer should have a New Brunswick lawyer review this notice and any participant waiver, and should speak with an insurance broker or provincial sport organization about liability and participant accident coverage. A website notice alone cannot guarantee that the group or an individual volunteer will not be named in a claim.

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 11, 2026.