Dartmouth was awarded the 2009 championships at an ICF Board of Directors meeting in
Madrid, Spain, on 23 October 2003.
Event format changes At the 2008 ICF Congress in Rome, a new program for the championships was approved. This marked the first change in the program since the addition of the K-4 1000 m women's event at the 2001 championships in Poznań. Men's C-4 500 m, men's K-4 500 m, women's K-4 1000 m events were replaced by C-1 4 × 200 m relay (men only) and K-1 4 × 200 m relay (both men and women). Women's C-1 200 m, C-1 500 m, C-2 200 m and C-2 500 m events were shown as exhibition. Paddleability exhibition events of K-1 200 m LTA (men & women), K-2 200 m TA&A (mixed), and C-2 200 m LTA&A (mixed) also took place (LTATA – Legs, Trunks, and Arms or Trunks and Arms; LTA – Legs, Trunks, and Arms; and TA&A – Trunks and Arms, or Arms). Support for women's Canadian and the paddle ability events were confirmed at an ICF Board of Directors meeting in
Lausanne, Switzerland, on 18–20 March 2009. A training camp was held for women's canoe in conjunction with the championships.
Official meetings In January 2009, ICF Secretary General Simon Toulson visited Halifax for three days and was impressed with the history of
canoeing in the area and the development of future canoeists for Canada. Two public meetings were held in Dartmouth and Halifax on 24 and 26 March regarding the championships.
Facility During the end of 2008, Lake Banook had its canoe course upgraded by
Dexter Construction Limited. Water that had been pumped out of lake ceased on 15 December 2008, allowing the lake to rise back to its regular level by February 2009. Cleanup, restoration and
landscaping was completed in the spring of 2009. By May 2009, this construction included new concrete
abutments at the , , , and finish points, debris and abutment cleanup, ten new lane wires, four new cross wires, and 800 new
buoys. Temporary grandstands for 20,000 spectators per day were also constructed. According to a 10 August 2009 press release, the staging area was at
Birch Cove Park in Halifax. 669 from 68 countries competed at the championships with an estimated 100,000 spectators.
Sponsorships The
Atlantic Lottery Corporation presented the "Women in Canoe" program that included 21 female canoeists from 12 different countries. Other sponsors include
Bell Aliant as presenters, silver sponsors were
The Chronicle Herald of Halifax,
CFRQ Q104 FM radio,
CBC Sports and the Halifax Water Authority; the bronze sponsors were NOREX,
Helly Hansen, Conserve Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia environment, Mills fashion and NELO; government sponsorship of
Department of Canadian Heritage, Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection, and the
Halifax Regional Municipality; other supporters of
Mic Mac Mall,
CBS Outdoor,
Metro Transit of Halifax, and Office Interiors; and friends of Ambassadors, Priority Management, KayakPro, the
Office of Aboriginal Affairs, ==Participating nations==