Savanna May Royes. A Young Pilots Life Cut Short.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. EST on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at Cedarview Community Church, 1000 Gorham Street, Newmarket, and via live stream at link. We encourage those attending to wear colourful clothes in recognition of the light and joy Savanna brought to all.

To our family, friends, and community,

Savanna May Royes, a young pilot’s life cut short. Please help support her family and legacy.

We have lost a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, girlfriend, student, and friend, who touched the lives of everyone she met.

At just 20 years old, Savanna May Royes was determined to pursue her dream of becoming a commercial pilot, following in the footsteps of her father and the many other professional flyers from her family. We are heartbroken to share that she was taken from us far too soon in a mid-air collision during her flight training. We are saddened that one other student pilot lost their life as well.

Savanna was the youngest of three children and was much loved by her older brother and sister, Sam and Breanna. Her parents, Loraine and Tim, adored her endlessly, and loved watching their youngest dance through life with a passion and tenacity that was felt by everyone who knew her. She was devoted in every facet of her short life, embracing her identity as a woman of colour and overcoming any and all obstacles to achieve her dreams. Savanna’s compassion, empathy, kindness, and character were boundless, and her absence has devastated us beyond words.

Savanna was also much loved by her boyfriend, Jaxon. The bond they shared was undeniable, and her love for Jaxon extended to his family. His sister, London, and his mother, Kelly, loved Savanna as one of their own, and both families knew that Savanna received as much love as she always gave.

This tragedy happened in a tiny community in Manitoba. While we wait for the National Transportation Board to complete its investigation into the crash, we find ourselves grappling with the heartbreak of losing Savanna far too soon. Her family’s first priority is to bring her home to lay her to rest, where her friends, family, and community can come together to celebrate her life and share in her memory. The grief we feel is unimaginable, and our future without Savanna is one we did not ever anticipate having to prepare for.

This GoFundMe is meant to help with the funeral and transportation costs. Any remaining funds will go toward creating a scholarship in Savanna’s name---a way to honour her memory by helping others follow their dreams; just as she had been doing, and just as she always encouraged others to do. We also plan to donate to a charity on her behalf, to carry forward the kindness and compassion she shared with everyone who knew her.