Canadian Naval Tribute Project Co-Founders

The Canadian Naval Tribute Project (CNTP) is co-founded by Mark B. Phillips and Sean E. Livingston. They together spearheaded this project and are responsible for the conception, branding, design, research, and fundraising for the intial monument and future initiatives related to this Canadian Navy focused project.

Lieutenant (N) Mark B. Phillips CD, MA, PLog

Lieutenant (N) Mark B. Phillips CD, MA, PLog is a certified professional logistician and has worked for 22 years, for the University of Toronto Libraries, as their High-Density Storage Facility Manager. He has served over 25 years as a Reserve Member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). In 2012, Mark earned a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Royal Roads University. Although his family has three generations of military service in the Regular Army, it was his grandfather’s decade of naval service in the Royal Navy during the 1920’s that drew his interest to join the CAF, as a naval officer. In 2008, Mark deployed for six-months as a civilian UN staff, in the role as Chief General Supply Unit, with the United Nations Mission in Sudan. In 2014 he escorted a 90-year-old Second World War Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve veteran to France for the weeklong 70th Anniversary of D-Day, as part of the official Veterans Affairs contingent. His personal contributions to CNTP have been noted in both the House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Mark is the Past-President/Membership Chairperson of the Naval Association of Canada Toronto Branch (established in 1946) and for four years he was as an active member of the Naval Association of Canada’s National Board of Directors. He is currently the Honours and Recognition Chair and the past Chairperson, of the Board of Directors of St. John Ambulance Toronto Region.

Lieutenant (N) Sean E. Livingston MStJ, CD, MSEd

Lieutenant (N) Sean E. Livingston MStJ, CD, MSEd is an author, naval historian, and teacher. He has served over 27 years as a Reserve Member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), initially at HMCS York. In addition to his book Oakville’s Flower: The History of HMCS OAKVILLE (Dundurn 2014) he was responsible for the creation of a monument at Tannery Park, Oakville in 2016, which celebrates the Town’s link to its namesake warship. On November 5, 2022, Sean unveiled a second monument at Queen Elizabeth Park Community & Cultural Centre in Oakville which showcases artifacts from the ship (including the recently re-located original ships bell). The exhibit was opened by the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Anita Anand PC, MP and is now situated permanently at Oakville Town Hall. His historical contributions have been noted in both the House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Sean advised and edited Ted Baris’ book Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory (HaperCollins 2022), is a contributor to the Canadian Citizen Sailors Virtual Cenotaph, and has published over twenty historical articles with Esprit de Corps Magazine. His next book, Pirate of the Adriatic (DoubleDagger June 2025) recounts the daring exploits of Captain Thomas G. Fuller DSC, RCNVR, a Canadian naval officer who commanded Motor Gun Boats/Motor Torpedo Boats during the Second World War. He is a past President of the Naval Association of Canada Toronto Branch and is a past Chairperson of St. John Ambulance Oakville, Milton, Halton-Hills.

CNTP Team

The support of team members Commander Walter Moniz OMM, CD and Honorary Captain (N) Jeff Topping, PMP was essential to the overall success of the project. Their combined skills and experience were significant in navigating the details regarding the construction of the monument, as well as connecting with stakeholders and partners. If not for their efforts, the Canadian Naval Tribute Project monument would not have found a home at HMCS York.