What would have been the 42nd edition of the annual St. Patrick's/Dawe School Run has been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 22nd. 

While more than 6,000 Grade 4-12 students have come together for this event in the past, this greatly exceeds Alberta Health's 200 person limit on outdoor events, and they had no choice but to cancel it this year.

The run was to promote health and fitness regardless of your running ability and would allow students to run or walk 3 or 5 km through a scenic route through the river valley, going from Heritage Ranch to Great Chief Park. 

“The St. Patrick’s/Dawe Run has been a longstanding tradition in not only our school communities but in the Red Deer community as well. It is something that we all look forward to each fall,” said Braden Kilpatrick, Principal at G.H. Dawe School. “While it’s disappointing that we have to cancel this year’s event, schools are finding alternate ways to stay active and healthy during this time.”

“Over the years, the St. Patrick’s/Dawe Run has been a great partnership with Red Deer Public and our school to promote students' health and wellness. We look forward to organizing this event each fall to bring together school communities from across Central Alberta. It’s unfortunate that we have to cancel this event; however, our division is continuing our focus on a comprehensive school health approach that promotes active living, healthy eating and mental wellness in our schools,” said Cathy Cameron, Principal at St. Patrick’s Community School.

“Over the years, the St. Patrick’s/Dawe Run has been a great partnership with Red Deer Public and our school to promote students' health and wellness. We look forward to organizing this event each fall to bring together school communities from across Central Alberta. It’s unfortunate that we have to cancel this event; however, our division is continuing our focus on a comprehensive school health approach that promotes active living, healthy eating and mental wellness in our schools,” said Cathy Cameron, Principal at St. Patrick’s Community School.