For the four days of competition, the warm weather and flat-calm water were ideal for racing. Thousands of spectators cheered on the fastest paddlers in the world as they raced on the Bell Aliant Racing Centre on Lake Banook and enjoyed the festival on Prince Albert Road.

“It really was a perfect week,” said Chris Keevill, Chair of Canoe ‘09. “We’ve witnessed some phenomenal races and top-notch entertainment. We’ve taken this event to a new level and people from around the globe are very impressed by the calibre of the event we’ve hosted here in Nova Scotia.”

More than 10,000 people filled Silver’s Hill, Prince Albert Road and the grandstands for the opening ceremony on Wednesday night. The ceremony - opening remarks, a parade of flags, and entertainment - included elements of Nova Scotian culture. The night ended with a fireworks display supported by the Alexander Keith’s Natal Day Festival.

On Friday night, another crowd of 10,000-plus enjoyed the Concert on the Lake, a free show featuring Dartmouth’s own Matt Mays and opening act Jon Mullane.

Festival entertainment took place daily along Prince Albert Road and was enjoyed by people of all ages.

But the races were the focal point of the event. The Canadian team finished third in the point standings, behind Hungary in first and Germany in second. Enthusiastic fans loudly cheered on the home team, especially favorites such as Adam van Koeverden, who won a bronze medal in the K1 1000 metre, and the record 11 Nova Scotians on the team.

Other medals won by the Canadian team were a gold by Christine Gauthier in the women’s Paddleability K1, a bronze by Richard Dober Jr. and Andrew Willows in K2 200 metre, and a bronze by the Women’s K1 relay team of Kia Byers, Emilie Fournel, Genevieve Orton, and Karen Furneaux.

This was the first World Championships to include four women’s canoe events as demonstration races. Canada swept all four of the events. Jenna Marks and Maria Halavrezos won the C2 500 metre and 200 metre. Marks won the C1 200 metre and Nicole Hayward won the C1 500 metre.

Many spectators traveled from around the world to watch. Approximately 30 million more people from 36 countries watched the event on television.

“Hosting an event like this really boosts the profile of our city internationally,” said Keevill. “The immediate benefits as well as the strong legacy of this event are making a tremendous impact on our community.”

Canoe ‘09 will leave a monetary legacy of $500,000 to the paddling community. In addition to this legacy, many infrastructure upgrades took place around the lake that will be enjoyed by the community for years to come.

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Media Contact:
Stacey Jones-Oxner
Communications Chair
902-497-6062

Day 1 - Thursday
Day 2 - Friday
Day 3 - Saturday
Day 4 - Sunday

Point Totals
Medal Standings

In an exciting race that had the crowd roaring, the men’s C-4 1,000 team of Halifax’s Richard Dalton, Dartmouth’s Ben Russell, and Ian Mortimer of Ottawa and Thomas Hall of Pointe-Claire, Que., surged to finish fifth.

“Unfortunately, there were a couple of other crews that came out very, very strong,” said Dalton, a 2004 Olympian and two-time world bronze-medallist. “But we were in the fight and we really did the best that I think we were able to do, and that’s a great feeling. And the crowd was awesome.

“The crowd’s yelling and you can’t help but start to pick it up, even if you don’t know where the strength is coming from. It appears when the crowd is with you.”

For Russell, the race had special meaning.

“On top of these being my first world championships, I think for a lot of people in Canadian canoeing it’s a bit of a special emphasis to this one,” said Russell. “And (the championships) are at home, but Banook Canoe Club prematurely lost one of our marquee athletes in February when my best friend, Michael Schaus, passed away at the age of 21, in his sleep.

“So, you will notice that all the C-4 are wearing these black bands in commemoration of the wonderful life that he lived, so he is still with us.”

Ben’s brother, Andrew, and his 2008 Olympic partner Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigny of Trois-Rivieres, Que., placed eighth in the C-2 1,000.

“It was a good effort, we just didn’t quite climb the travel speed today with the boat glide and that,” said Andrew Russell. “But we worked really hard, we left our best effort on the water but unfortunately it just wasn’t quite enough today. So we’ll just try to build on this and use it as motivation for the next few races.”

In another medal event, Genevieve Orton of Lake Echo and crewmates Emilie Fournel, Kristin Gauthier and Mylanie Barre were eighth in the K-4 500.

“Obviously, it’s not where we wanted to be but we did what we could, so it is what it is,” said Orton, competing in her first senior world championships.

“The crowds are awesome, they really helped. It’s really exciting to be here. Obviously, it’s nerve-wracking but it’s under control. It’s great, I love it, it’s so much fun.”

Meanwhile, Jillian D’Alessio of Middle Sackville and Victoria Tuttle of Ottawa - a team formed three weeks ago, finished ninth in the K-2 1,000.

“We got off to a great start,” commented D’Alessio. “We were surrounded by some powerhouses, so we were feeling the effects of that for a little bit.

“But other than that, we put it together as best as we could. We worked really hard. I am happy with our effort. We left it out there.”

Three-time Olympic medallist Adam van Koeverden of Oakville, Ont., led most of the way to claim a bronze medal in the men’s kayak K-1 1,000 metres, in 3:31.285. Germany’s Richard Hoff took gold in 3:29.425, followed by van Koeverden’s training partner Anders Gustafson of Sweden in 3:30.976.

Christine Gauthier of Pointe-Claire, Que., gave the host country its second medal by mining gold in the women’s K-1 200-metre Paddleability final in 1:08.594. This was the first year at worlds for the program for disabled athletes.

And in an exhibition women’s canoe final, a prelude to the 2010 worlds in Poland where it will become a medal event, Jenna Marks of Dartmouth won the C-1 200 in 56.195. And Nicole Haywood of Nanaimo, B.C., won the C-1 500 in 2:20.762.

Van Koeverden, recovering from a broken ankle two months ago today that curtailed his training, was battling butterflies.

“Racing here - we used to live up there,” he said pointing to an area above Lake Banook. “My brother was born when we were living in Dartmouth, I don’t know, 20 years ago, and it’s as home as it gets for me.

“I was stressed out this morning, I didn’t sleep well last night and I knew that I wanted some retribution from last year’s 1,000 at the Olympics (where he finished eighth), and I knew that I wanted to prove to myself that I could be back up on that podium, and I knew that I was at a bit of a disadvantage.”

Mark Oldershaw of Burlington, Ont., missed the podium by split-seconds, finishing fourth in the men’s canoe C-1 1,000 in 4:00.514. Menkov Vadim of Uzbekistan was first in 3:55.947, Mathieu Goubel of France second in 3:56.047 and Sebastian Brendel of Germany third in 4:00.215.

“The last 300 metres, I heard the crowd and felt the adrenaline, and just decided to go for it,” said Oldershaw, a 2008 Olympian.

Oldershaw gets another shot at a medal today, in the C-1 500 final.

Van Koeverden, meanwhile, will go for the podium again, in the K-1 500.

The four-day event wraps up today.

Matt Mays will headline Canoe ’09’s ‘Concert on the Lake’ Friday, August 14.

“We’re thrilled to have such an exciting Nova Scotian performer headline the festival,” says Chris Keevill, Chair of Canoe ‘09. “Matt Mays’ music and stage performance is a perfect match for the high energy sport of paddling.”

‘Concert on the Lake’ is just one component of the five-day non-gated festival along Prince Albert Road that will include Opening Ceremonies, daily entertainment, buskers, fireworks, and cultural displays.

The Friday night ‘Concert on the Lake’ will be held on the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation Support4Sport stage and will also feature Canadian rocker Jon Mullane. Mullane will open the show earlier in the evening.

The 2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships runs August 12-16 and will be the largest international sporting event ever held in Atlantic Canada.

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For more information contact:

Canoe ‘09 Media Centre
466-0525
soxner@canoe09.ca

Fans, many with their children, arrived at the site hours before the main event, toting camp chairs or blankets, many securing a spot atop Silvers Hill overlooking the water.

Fans filled the Prince Albert Road area of Dartmouth to soak in the international flavour and witness the singing and dancing that could also be seen on the big screen positioned near the entertainment stage.

The parade of flags was a highlight of the event. Fans cheered as canoes displaying the flags of the 70 competing countries paddled the lake route. Any time Team Canada was mentioned, the crowd roared their approval.

Another of the highlights was the Rhythms of Nova Scotia show. Dancers, drummers and musicians represented the four principal cultures of the province - Aboriginal, African-Canadian, Celtic and Acadian.

The Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra also performed, including a playing of ‘O Canada!’

Fireworks lighting up the night sky capped off the festive night.

In Thursday morning action, Genevieve Orton of Dartmouth finished third in the K-4 500 metres along with teammates Emilie Fournel, Kristin Gauthier and Mylanie Barre. The team advances straight to the final on Saturday morning.

“We had a great start like we usually do. We nailed that again,” Orton said. “I think we can get a better pace throughout the race and obviously step it up a bit at the finish. Someone told me we were getting caught at the end, so that can’t happen again.”

Olympic Kayak Champion Adam Van Koeverden and Olympic Canoeist Mark Oldershaw were both double winners in yesterday’s heats. Van Koeverden took his heat in K1 1000 metre and K1 500 metre while Oldershaw also paddled to victory in his C1 in the same distances.

Karen Furneaux of Waverley had a strong showing in the K1 500 metre. Furneaux came in second in her heat and will race the semi-final today. Furneaux is the only Canadian team member who also competed at Canoe ‘97.

Furneaux medaled at Canoe ‘97 and has a chance of winning another World medal in front of a home crowd if she advances to the final on Saturday.

Andrew Russell of Dartmouth, and partner Gabriel Beauchesne-Sevigney advanced to semi finals in C2 1000 and 500 metre with fourth and third place finishes. Canada’s men’s K4 finished third in their heat and will race the semi-final tomorrow. Una Lounder of Dartmouth and Kia Byers placed fifth in K2 500 metre and Tamlyn Bohm also placed fifth in her K1 1000 metre heat.

“Anytime you see a major international event being held in a city it usually gives a significant boost to the local economy,” says Valerie Payn, president and CEO, Halifax Chamber of Commerce. “Athletes and spectators visit local businesses and the preparation for the event means jobs for contractors.”

Halifax Regional Municipality will play host to over 70 countries and 1000 international athletes and coaches over the course of the Championships. Many of the teams have arrived early to acclimatize to Nova Scotia and practice on lakes around the city.

More than $2 million has already been invested in the renovations to the course and lakefront that will remain as a legacy after the event is over. The upgrades have been ongoing for over a year and included lowering the lake, building and upgrading facilities for the officials and athletes, as well as several improvements to the park and beaches around the area.

“We are excited about the economic impact that Canoe ‘09 will have on Nova Scotia,” said Chris Keevill, chair of Canoe ‘09. “We are proud to have partnered with Atlantic businesses to bring this world class international event to the province.”

2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships will take place August 12 to 16 at the Bell Aliant Racing Centre on Lake Banook in Dartmouth.

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Media Contact: Media Centre
Canoe ‘09
902-466-0525

More than 70 countries, will be using Birch Cove Park, on Lake Banook, as a staging area during the championships.

“We wanted to take advantage of Lake Banook’s natural beauty and create something special for the visiting athletes,” said Chris Keevill, chair of Canoe ‘09. “It is incredible to see the transformation of this popular park and the improvements made for Canoe ‘09 will be another lasting legacy for the residents of HRM.”

Walking along the tree-lined paths in Birch Cove is a striking experience. The country names and flag signs are attached to the fronts of each tent, teamed with the different languages being spoken. It is an international journey heightened by the bustle of activity and crackling excitement as athletes prepare to compete.

The natural setting is a big departure from what is normally used at the Worlds.

“I think it’s a lot more natural looking,” said Steve Giles, an Olympic medalist and Canoe ‘09 Competition Chair. “A lot of times the athlete staging area is a kind of a concrete jungle, not a lot of trees and certainly not in the woods with a tent amongst the trees.”

Canoe 09 is the largest international sporting event ever held in Atlantic Canada. More than 1000 athletes, coaches and officials are in Nova Scotia for this event. 100,000 spectators are expected to take in the competition and festival beginning with the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday evening on Prince Albert Road. For complete details, visit www.canoe09.ca.

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Media Contact
Stacey Jones-Oxner
Communications Chair Canoe 09
902-497-6062
soxner@canoe09.ca

• Oakdale Crescent
• Oakdale Court
• Nowlan Street
• Bolton Terrace
• Boathouse Lane
• Banook Avenue 
• Prince Albert Road (partial closure, from Hawthorne Street to Sinclair Street)

The Closed roads are highlighted in red on this map.

Residents have been given road access passes. There will be no on site parking for the duration of the closures. Violators will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.

Arrangements have been made with the clubs on Lake Banook to move to Graham’s Grove during the lake closure, and Lake Mic Mac will be open to the public. Anyone wishing to boat on Lake Mic Mac must depart from either Graham’s Grove or Lake Mic Mac. Boats currently stored on Lake Banook should be moved prior to the closure if they are going to be used as passage to Lake Mic Mac will not be permitted through the course or return lane on Lake Banook.

This courtesy is necessary to ensure the World’s fastest paddlers have optimal training and racing conditions for the duration of the event. It is also necessary to protect the new starting system and upgraded course, which is a significant legacy to the local community and will be for many years to come.

If you notice any unpermitted or suspicious activity around Lake Banook, please report it to Police or the appropriate authority to keep our newly upgraded course in the best condition possible.

We thank you in advance for your co-operation and understanding.

Team members, including a record 11 Nova Scotians will arrive on two separate flights Sunday, August 9th, at 1:47 p.m. and 2:29 p.m. Media are invited to cover the arrival and join family members and friends in the domestic arrival area at Halifax Stanfield International Airport.

Flights:
AC 674 arriving from Ottawa at 1:47 p.m.
AC AC8774 arriving from Montreal at 2:29 p.m.

Media Contact:
Stacey Jones-Oxner
Communications Chair, Canoe ʻ09
902-497-6062
soxner@canoe09.ca

- What: news conference for the Canadian Team competing at the 2009 ICF World Sprint Canoe Championships.
- Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
- Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
- Location: Holiday Inn Harbourview, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
- Who: All 40 members of the Canadian Team will be introduced. Opportunity for one-on-one interviews with the athletes and coaches will be provided

The time is drawing near! Seeing the other countries arrive this week on Lake Banook is making me realize just how soon the races really are. Another indicator- the international women’s canoe camp had its first session today in Lake Echo at Orenda Canoe Club. There was representation from Canada, USA, UK, Finland, Brazil and France. Two girls from Ecuador will be arriving this weekend.

We were able to have a great selection of boats to use- brand new Nelo and Plastex c-1s and c-2s. In the morning we went out for a short paddle so the coaches had the chance to observe and compare skill levels. I really didn’t know what to expect from the other countries given the limited opportunity we get to race against them, but I was pleasantly surprised. In the afternoon we were able to all go out for a longer practice and find at least one person who was of similar speed to paddle with.

I look forward to more girls arriving to compete and showing the world that progress is being made in women’s canoe. A big thank you to Elaine Keene for putting so much work into getting this camp organized and giving female canoeists the opportunity to be exposed to new levels in the sport.

Maria Halavrezos

“We couldn’t be happier with the extremely high calibre of entertainment and activities for the festival,” said Canoe ‘09 Chair Chris Keevill. “It is a perfect complement to the excitement of the Olympic-level races that will be taking place at the Bell Aliant Racing Centre on Lake Banook.

“It’s hard to imagine a more entertaining family weekend.”

The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation Support4Sport stage beside Mic Mac AAC will host the opening ceremonies with a parade of flags on the lake accompanied by live native drum music performed by the Sons of Membertou. Artist Holly Carr will be onstage painting a silk canvas.

After the official opening, spectators will be treated to a dazzling showcase of Rhythms of Nova Scotia created by the producers of DRUM! The performance will include musicians, dancers, drummers, and singers from Nova Scotia’s four principal cultures — Aboriginal, African Nova Scotian, Celtic, and Acadian.

The evening will finish off with an extravagant fireworks display, including a breathtaking “waterfall effect” supported by the Alexander Keith’s Natal Day Committee.

The Concert on the Lake, a thank you to the fans, volunteers and supporters of Canoe ‘09, will begin Friday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m. and is headlined by award-winning band Matt Mays. His five-member band with deep Dartmouth roots couldn’t be more excited.

“We’re a bunch of Dartmouth kids getting to play on Prince Albert Road; we’re really excited,” said Mays keyboardist Adam Baldwin, who paddled for a number of years at Cheema. “We really don’t get to play in Dartmouth, too much so it’s nice.

“They can certainly expect us to come out with all guns a blazing. It really is a big deal for us.”

Canadian rocker Jon Mullane, whose song Make You Move, was used by NBC in its Olympic promos, will open the show. From Thursday to Sunday, the festival will begin 30 minutes before the races start and end 30 minutes after the last race. In addition to vendors, exhibits and displays along Prince Albert Road, there will be juggling, comedy, magic tricks, and even fire eating as several local performers from the International Buskers Festival entertain daily.

Daniel Mahoney will defy gravity in his amazing pogo performances and there will be many activities for younger children, including bouncy castles, slides, colouring contests, balloon art, clowns, and face painting. The Discovery Centre will present a variety of hands-on activities in the Interactive Area and, in the international spirit of Canoe ‘09, there will be live animals from around the world. The audience will get to touch and hold everything from tarantulas and frogs to a four-metre-long python.

Todd Labrador, a skilled builder of authentic Mi’kmaq birch bark canoes, will be onsite demonstrating the process and the Lifesaving Society will talk about safe boating and will conduct an on-water demonstration over the lunch break on Saturday.

The closing ceremonies are slated for 4 p.m. on Sunday, with the passing of the ICF flag to Poznań, Poland, which will host the event next year. There will also be live entertainment at the closing ceremonies.

A schedule of events is available at www.canoe09.ca.

For more information contact:
Stacey Jones-Oxner
Communications Chair
902-497-6062
soxner@canoe09.ca

Thursday, August 6th between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Friday, August 7th between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, August 8th between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In just seven days, more than 1,000 athletes from 75 countries will compete in the largest international sporting event ever held in Atlantic Canada.

Excitement is building.

“This is a must-see event,” said Chris Keevill, Chair of Canoe ‘09. “Next week, Nova Scotians will have the unique opportunity to see Olympic-level racing – live and in person. These athletes are the best in the world, the fastest on Earth.”

Many of the world’s fastest paddlers have arrived for acclimatization camps leading up to Canoe ’09. International paddlers from Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and Belarus are training at Graham’s Grove; Italy is training at Banook Canoe Club; France and Australia are at Cheema Aquatic Club and Denmark is at Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club. Athletes are arriving a week in advance to help adjust to the time zone and get used to Nova Scotia’s climate.

Races begin Thursday, Aug. 13. Heat and semifinals will take place on Thursday and Friday. Finals will be on Saturday and Sunday.

There will also be a festival along Prince Albert Road featuring daily entertainment, opening ceremonies and closing ceremonies, and a concert with Matt Mays.

A schedule of events is available at www.canoe09.ca.

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For more information contact:
Stacey Jones-Oxner
Communications Chair
902-497-6062
soxner@canoe09.ca

The Canoe ‘09 logo has been created in flowers on the Dartmouth Common. If you’re in downtown Dartmouth, make sure you check it out. More photos.

The key objective of the meeting was to see how the two Federations could work together to push for the inclusion of Canoeing into the 2016 Paralympic Games.  The Va’a boats have been identified as excellent for single blade races for disabled paddlers alongside conventional Kayaks. 

Charles Villierme, Va’a President, said, “From the first Va’a World Championships in 1984, the thenICF 1^st Vice President remarked how the ICF could easily work with Va’a. Today, I will push hard to have a close relationship with the ICF, in particular, working to have disabled paddlers in the 2016 Paralympic Games and also to work together to develop more Va’a and canoeing activities inOceania and the South Pacific.” 

The ICF and the IVF are well underway to complete a global agreement for long term cooperation. The other topics discussed included the technical requirements pertaining to the sports, rules and regulations, different ocean racing formats, V1/V2 boats without rudders and using officials for competitions. 

Talking about the overall meeting, the ICF President, Jose Perurena commented, “The meeting was held in a positive atmosphere with a 100% collaboration which is positive and complimentary for both IFs. Agreements to work together for disabled paddling and other mutual topics are encouraging.” 

ICF and IVF will now work on finalising the agreement and start to work on achieving some of the objectives set out in the meeting. 

For more information about Va’a paddling, click here.

Check back on the ICF website for further updates www.canoeicf.com