Boxwood Festival and Workshop - July 2009 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Credit unions have been part of the financial scene in Canada for the last century. In Nova Scotia, they were created during the depression of the 1930s, when fishers, farmers, and miners became mortgaged to local merchants and loan sharks. They needed a source of manageable credit and St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish helped them realize this goal, becoming the prime mover in the cooperative movement in eastern Canada.

When's the last time you got money back from your bank? Within the world of credit unions, this is common practice. Just ask Brian McGean, Manager of Princess Credit Union in Sydney Mines. In 2009, his institution awarded over $150,000 back to the people of Cape Breton who use the credit union. No small potatoes.

"We will continue to provide quality service and products that meet the needs of our customer owners," says McGean. "We've proudly served this community for over 75 years and we aim to continue long into the future."