The Calgary Stampede has crowned a princess. Kyla Lightfoot was crowned the 2027 Stampede Princess Friday night over six other finalists who were evaluated on horsemanship, public speaking and interview skills. Lightfoot, a journalism and digital media student at Mount Royal University in Calgary, has ridden horses since she was two years old. She participated in 4-H Alberta, extreme cowboy racing, gymkhana and reining. She’s still active on the Quarter Horse Association of Alberta show circuit, where she has won multiple national championships. She was Miss Rodeo Airdrie in 2024 and Miss Ponoka Stampede in 2025 before ascending to the role of Calgary Stampede Princess in 2027. Katelyn Gardner, the chair of the Stampede Royalty Committee, said it’s a big job. “It’s 365 days,” Gardner said. “She’ll start Jan. 1 and do upwards of 350 events – so it is a big commitment. “This contest tends to bring out young women who are already leaders in their community who are looking for that next step in becoming an ambassador and representing the Calgary Stampede,” Gardner added. “With that, they each bring their own story, their own connection to it and their own way of taking the Calgary Stampede story and values and putting that out into the community.” Lightfoot will join Chondra Fox, who was named the 2027 Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess last Sunday in a year-long role as a Stampede ambassador--something Lightfoot said she wanted since she was a little girl. “My very first time seeing Stampede royalty was when I was five years old at the Calgary Stampede Parade – and it was the very first parade and very first rodeo I ever attended in my entire life,” she said. “And I said mom, ‘one day, I want to be just like them’.” “It’s a lifelong dream and it’s one that I’m so excited to have the opportunity to fulfill.” Gardner said the Stampede will be in good hands with Lightfoot and Fox representing it. “She just has this warmth that resonates with people,” she said, “And I think their personalities come through and people kind of latch onto that and it’s their connection to the Stampede. “And these girls are just incredible with it.” With files from CTV News’ Darren Wright
