EDMONTON, Alberta—A family-run farm in Stony Plain, Alberta, is celebrating a life-changing win after being named the 2025 Servus Big Share contest winner, Servus CU announced.
Tom, Maureen, and Mark Scheideman—owners of White Whale Creek Farms Ltd. and longtime Servus Credit Union members—have received a $1 million deposit into their account.
This year marked a milestone for the contest: for the first time, the grand prize went to a family-owned farming operation rather than an individual.
“We never thought for a second we would win this. It truly feels like a gift from heaven,” said Maureen Scheideman. “This money will let us check a few dreams off our bucket list — like a father-son fishing trip in B.C., a riverboat cruise, finally taking that first-class trip to Austria we've always talked about, and maybe even driving in a NASCAR race. Even though we work side by side every day, family is everything to us, and we’re excited to use this opportunity to keep making memories together.”
Now in its seventh year, the Servus Big Share encourages members to build healthy financial habits by saving money. Between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2025, Servus members received five entries into a $1 million draw for every $500 of growth in their savings and investment balances. Bonus entries were also awarded for setting up automatic payroll deposits or contributing to registered accounts such as RRSPs, TFSAs, and FHSAs.
“The Servus Big Share isn’t just about one winner,” said Ian Burns, president and CEO of Servus Credit Union. “It’s about inspiring every member to believe in their ability to shape a stronger financial future for themselves, with Servus at their side.”
The member base increased their savings by more than $545 million during the four-month contest period, with more than 8,900 new members joining the credit union during that time, the CU said.