Co-Founders

The Canadian Naval Tribute Project is co-founded by Mark B. Phillips and Sean E. Livingston, who together spearheaded the project. They came up with the idea of creating a monument that would celebrate a diverse range of contributions, choosing fourteen unsung veterans for their impact on the modern day Canadian Navy and Canada as a whole. They are responsible for the conception, branding, design, research, and fundraising of the monument.

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

Lieutenant (N) Mark B. Phillips CD, MA, PLog is a professional logistician and works for the University of Toronto Libraries, as their High-Density Storage Facility Manager. He has served over 23 years as a Reserve Member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). He has 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 RCNVR veteran to France for the weeklong 70th Anniversary of D-Day, as part of the official Veterans Affairs contingent. Mark is currently a Past-President/Membership Chairperson of the Naval Association of Canada Toronto Branch and for four years was as a member of the Naval Association of Canada’s National Board of Directors. He is currently the 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 25 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 permanently 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. His historical contributions have been noted in both the House of Commons and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Sean is in the final stages of publishing his second book (RCN history), advised and edited Ted Baris’ book Battle of the Atlantic: Gauntlet to Victory (HaperCollins 2022) and is a contributor to the Canadian Citizen Sailors Virtual Cenotaph. He is currently serving as a Past President of the Naval Association of Canada Toronto Branch.

CNTP Team

The support of team members Commander Walter Moniz OMM, CD and Honorary Captain (N) Jeff Topping, PMP were 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 CNTP would not have found a home at HMCS York.