Philip Demers (born March 21, 1978) is a Canadian former professional marine mammal trainer at Marineland of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

[1] In 2007, Demers became the focus of mass media attention regarding his unique relationship with a captive Pacific walrus named Smooshi.

[2] Their relationship garnered the attention of such television programs as CBC's The National, Inside Edition,[3] and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

On the same date, all of the 11 charges laid by the OSPCA for animal cruelty against Marineland were dropped by the prosecutor who believed that there was no hope of convictions on eight of them.

"[7] Later in the day on 10 August, updated news reports added insights as to alternative proposed by the Crown Attorney: the public interest would be better served by a system of ongoing monitoring of the animals' condition at the park.