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, who has been employed for the past 22 years as the High-Density Storage Facility Manager at the University of Toronto Libraries. In 2012, Mark earned a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads University. He has also served for more than 25 years as a Reserve member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Although his family includes three generations of service in the Regular Army, it was his grandfather’s decade of naval service in the Royal Navy during the 1920s that inspired Mark to join the CAF as a naval officer. In 2008, he deployed as a civilian staff member for six months with the United Nations Mission in Sudan, serving in the executive-level role as Chief, General Supply Unit (P-4). His contributions to the Canadian Naval Tribute Project have been recognized in the Senate of Canada, the House of Commons, and the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Mark escorted a 90-year-old Second World War Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve “Battle of the Atlantic” veteran, to France in 2014 for a weeklong 70th Anniversary of D-Day commemorations, as part of the official Veterans Affairs Canada contingent. He currently serves as Past President and Membership Chair of the Naval Association of Canada, Toronto Branch (est. in 1946), and previously he served for four years on the Naval Association of Canada’s National Board of Directors. Mark is also the Honours and Recognition Chair and past Chairperson of the Board of Directors for 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. He 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. Sean’s latest 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 York monument project. Their combined skills and experience were significant in navigating the details regarding the construction, 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.