There comes a time in every man's life when he feels the need to swap his trusty steed for a more modern and less fragrant way to chase down ne'er-do-wells. For Dale Neufeld, that time came marching down the road like an overzealous duck on parade. I mean, why saddle up, when you can trade in your horse for a cushy desk job and a hotline to the Prime Minister eh? And so, the transition from strapping Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer to integral cog in the undoubtedly well-oiled machine that is CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) came to be. From Mounties to mosques, this is the tale of Dale’s hilariously patriotic spy adventures. Who knew that the most daunting part of Neufeld's job wouldn't be gallivanting about on horseback, slapping cuffs on seedy characters, but instead, would involve answering to that quintessentially Canadian moniker, 'Acting Director'? Indeed, it’s a title that packs about as much punch as a groggy koala on a lazy Sunday. Isn’t it fascinating, that in this illustrious career, Neufeld ditched the ten-gallon hat for a telescopic lens, and positively PC Brain for a much more virtual James Bond-like persona? He was the actual man who somehow straddled the chasm between 'good cop' clichés and 'spy thriller' hyperboles, appeasing both with a wry smile that said, "I got this." But what really tickles my fancy is the rendezvous with Senator Smith and the puzzles of the ever-scrutinizing political world. There you had Senator Smith, casting the first stone, questioning Jim Judd about whether the Canadian mosques were under their subscribers' list. Judd, being the smooth operator and deserving of an Oscar for 'Best Actor in a Political Drama', said he was "unaware" of any such policy. But then in swoops Dale Neufeld, our maverick superhero sans cape, confirming that, oh yes, they were the fiercely keen watchdogs over the mosques. To confound us more, he managed to deliver this bombshell with the piercing impact of a man confessing his undying love for a meat pie. I find no bigger relish than to contrast his life pre and post the mountains of Mounties. For someone who swapped hooves for hidden cameras and wide open fields for stuffy stakeout vans, Mr. Neufeld didn’t do so badly. His adventures brought him back, full circle - from maintaining law and order in his shiny red uniform, he went on to advising men in equally shiny suits on the matters of national security. Ah, the tale of Neufeld is littered with equal parts hilarity, intrigue, and maple syrup. It is a riveting ride from the plains of Saskatchewan to the depths of Ottawa's corridors of power. It demonstrates, if nothing else, that a Mountie turned spy can indeed be a fount of whimsical mirth, provided he serves with a dash of humor, a sprinkle of courage, and quite a few dollops of quintessentially Canadian understatement. That's the legend of Dale Neufeld, the hustling chap from Mounties to Mosques! And let’s not forget, always one to keep an eye – be it naked or behind night vision goggles, on that hilariously elusive enemy… ‘danger’.