Three people stabbed in serious assault at Calgary Stampede: police

CALGARY — Police say they are looking for suspects after three people were stabbed at the Calgary Stampede late Tuesday.

Calgary police have said officers were called to an area of the Stampede midway, where they found a severely injured man. He was taken to hospital in serious condition, Acting Insp. Scott Campbell said Wednesday.

Not long after, two more people were stabbed and brought to hospital, he said.

All three victims were male, including two 18-year-olds and one 15-year-old, Campbell said.

“At this time, we believe the individuals involved in the altercation were known to each other,” he said. “The victims are all related or known to each other, and they also knew the assailants.

“The motive behind the attack remains under investigation.”

Police have said the attack is not believed to be random, but they haven’t identified or arrested any suspects. Campbell said security footage suggests anywhere between eight and 10 people were involved in the assaults.

Campbell said many people were in the area at the time and police are appealing to them for video footage.

“This investigation is ongoing, and we’ll continue to provide updates as more information becomes available,” he said.

Ahead of the Stampede, police said security would be tight at the rodeo. Officers were to be patrolling the grounds, vehicle access would be limited and drones would be in the skies.

Campbell said the drones didn’t capture anything on the stabbing because they were monitoring a nearby concert. Stampede security cameras, however, captured part of the assault, and Campbell said that footage is being reviewed.

Asked if security measures are changing after the stabbing, the Stampede’s Kerrie Blizard said they’re waiting for police to wrap up their investigation.

“We’ll be working with our Calgary Police Service partners on any recommendations that they might have,” she said.

“In this particular moment, nothing has changed.”

—With files from Aaron Sousa in Edmonton

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.