Ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to introduce our newest member of CIN/RCR, Andréane (Andy) Laurin. Andy is a dual Canadian and Australian citizen who graduated rom the Masters of Cyber Security Analysis program at Macquarie University in 2021. Since 2022 has been working as a cyber intelligence professional for an Australian state government, but moved to to Ottawa in January 2026. Andy is a former member of the Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers (AIPIO).

Andy aims to work in cyber intelligence for the federal government. As a CIN/RCR member she hopes to broaden her network and contribute to building our institutional knowledge in cyber security.

Welcome Andy. We are pleased to have you with us. Please excuse the snow. It will eventually go away.

Ladies and gentlemen,

For those of us in the Ottawa area, your will have seen my previous note about another another evening of good food and pleasant conversation on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at Le St. Laurent, the Penthouse, 460 St. Laruent Blvd. Ottawa, ON K1K 4Z2. See https://lestlaurent.ca/Reservations/tabid/117848/pgid/3/Default.aspx.

We will be joined by two prominent Canadian journalists - Murray Brewster from the CBC, and Robert Fife, from CTV - for a conversation about the manner in which Canadian intelligence issues are presented and discussed in Canadian main stream media.

This is a no-host event. Reservations can be made at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ottawa-intelligence-dinner-club-oidc-wednesday-25-february-2026-tickets-1981976895247?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you make a reservation please be sure you attend. Venue arrangements are made on the basis of numbers committed to attend.

Best regards,

I am pleased to announce that James Awad is our newest member of CIN/RCR. James is the Vice-President of Product and Program Management at Octasic, in Montreal.

Octasic is a unique Canadian vendor of equipment for the defence and intelligence sectors. James is personally involved in projects with key Canadian agencies and is interested in networking to share his expertise in SIGINT.

Welcome aboard, James. We are happy to have you among us.

Best regards,

Jim

Ladies and gentlemen,

For those of us in the Ottawa area, we will spoil ourselves with another evening of good food and pleasant conversation on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at Le St. Laurent, the Penthouse, 460 St. Laruent Blvd. Ottawa, ON K1K 4Z2. See https://lestlaurent.ca/Reservations/tabid/117848/pgid/3/Default.aspx.

We will be joined by two prominent Canadian journalists for a conversation about the manner in which Canadian intelligence issues are presented and discussed in Canadian main stream media.

This is a no-host event. Reservations can be made at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ottawa-intelligence-dinner-club-oidc-wednesday-25-february-2026-tickets-1981976895247?aff=oddtdtcreator

If you make a reservation please be sure you attend. Venue arrangements are made on the basis of numbers committed to attend.

Best regards,

Ladies and gentlemen,

The minutes of a recent Board of Directors meeting, held on 21 January 2026, are now posted on the CIN/RCR Governance page, for your information. They are also attached here for convenience.

Best regards,

Jim

Ladies and gentlemen,

Our next is coming up, on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at 7:00 p.m. (Eastern) on Zoom.

Join the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88352352568?pwd=CTA2610QwAbDO8cq28n0P8QQpjMMpR.1

Our topic for discussion will be impact of the new US National Security Strategy 2025 on the spectrum of threats to Canada's sovereignty and national interests.

Attached here is a copy of the US National Security Strategy 2025, for your information and review. A copy has been posted in the Blog and you are invited to engage in commentary as you wish. The body of commentary will provide the basis for our

discussion.

Ladies and gentlemen,

There are two posts on the CIN?RCR BLOG, addressing issues with the US 2025 National Security Strategy. You may wish to read them prior to our VICS next week, on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at 7:00 pm. via Zoom.

You are invited to add your own commentary to the BLOG, and provide ideas we can discuss during the VICS.

Best regards,

Jim

Ladies and gentlemen,

Happy New Year.

I write to offer an early notice of our CIN/RCR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF MEMBERS ON WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL 2026, AT 7:00 P.M. (EASTERN) ON ZOOM.

I invite you all to become familiar with the CIN/RCR By-Law No. 1 - Constitution. At the AGM, we must do two things. First we must approve the 2025 Annual Financial Report. Second. You will be asked to elect Directors to your Board.

Other important agenda items will cover program planning and budget issues.

In the next week or so, I will send out a notice to all asking for nominations or volunteers to stand for election as a Director. Our Board is composed of 12 Directors, two of which are in mid-term and so need no attention. Seven Directors require confirmation and a further three posts require election. Any Member can be nominated or volunteer t…

I write to wish all CIN/RCR members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you and your families have a wonderful holiday period of rest, warmth and good food.

To all of you who, in some way, work to keep our country safe and secure, I offer my sincere thanks. We all appreciate what you do.

Warm regards,

Jim