Welcome to the Winter Solstice 2006 E-Cassiopeia. Many authors contributed to a very full and informative issue. Perhaps, the with hectic last minute rush of the season nearly abated you will have a few minutes to peruse this issue. Russ Taylor and Sean Dougherty provide a very informative update on the SKA while John Percy congratulates Jayanne English for some wonderful imaging done with VLA data. The board has provided some useful notes on newly announced awards and NSERC envelop funding updates. As well, our usual collection of reports and news updates rounds out the issue.

We also note, with sadness, the passing of a great Canadian astronomer, Donald Alexander MacRae (1916-2006)

 Merry Christmas and all the best in the coming new year!

Brian Martin (brian.martin@kingsu.ca)