A Full-Circle Moment With BMO: Why Three Generations of Our Family Bank With the Bank of Montreal
The year was 1954. My grandfather, Sydney “Zaida Syd” Sarbit, was a successful entrepreneur in Selkirk, Manitoba. His parents had started a small grocery store, and when he eventually took it over, he expanded it through sheer dedication, warmth, and a deep commitment to serving people.
He was the kind of man who remembered every customer’s name, who made people feel valued, and who believed that business should be personal. Those values didn’t just help him build a livelihood, they built a legacy.
But everything changed when a devastating fire broke out in the store.
With no fire insurance, he lost his business overnight.
It was the kind of moment that would have ended most entrepreneurial journeys.
But not his.
How BMO — and a Man Named Tommy Gallant — Changed Everything
At the time, Syd was deeply involved in the Selkirk community. He was President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Rotary Club, and widely respected for his character, leadership, and generosity.
Through his Rotary network, he was introduced to Tommy Gallant, a manager at the Bank of Montreal (BMO).
Tommy knew of Syd’s reputation; A hardworking businessman who cared about people, supported the community, and always lived with integrity. And in a moment when Syd had no collateral, no store, and no insurance, Tommy and BMO chose to stand by him.
BMO didn’t just help him rebuild the grocery store.
They also helped him pay off his wholesalers, ensuring he could restart with dignity, trust, and the ability to honor his commitments.
This wasn’t just banking.
This was belief.
This was community.
This was customer service at its highest expression.
With that support, Syd went on to build Sarbit’s IGA, which became the largest independent grocery store in Western Canada. It was, unsurprisingly, a massive success, a testament to what happens when character meets opportunity and a bank is willing to back the right person.
Not Toronto, Not Montreal…This Is Selkirk
1996: Loyalty Passed Down Through Generations
Fast forward to 1996.
I was 15 years old, working at Burger King, holding my very first paycheque. Because of my grandfather’s experience, and because of how BMO supported him during the hardest moment of his life, my father didn’t hesitate. He brought me to BMO to open my first account.
From that day forward, like my father and grandfather, I became a loyal BMO customer.
And I have never chosen another bank.
Naturally, when we started Picture Perfect Cleaning 15 years ago, now one of the leading commercial cleaning companies in Calgary and Edmonton, we opened our business banking accounts with BMO. It wasn’t even a question.
15 Years of Partnership, Trust, and Unmatched Service
Our relationship with BMO has only strengthened over time.
Even though I don’t visit the branch as often anymore (thanks to DepositEdge), the tellers at the Seton location still greet me by name. They ask about our team, our growth, and our projects. Their warmth and personal service feel like an extension of the same authenticity my grandfather valued decades ago.
Our Senior Relationship Manager, Ashley Mentz, has been exceptional.
She is responsive, proactive, thoughtful, and consistently goes above and beyond. The kind of banking partner every business owner hopes to have, especially in a company as fast-growing as Picture Perfect Cleaning.
November 18, 2025: A Moment That Brought Everything Full Circle
On November 18, 2025, BMO featured Picture Perfect Cleaning on their national social media pages. Remarkably, it occurred exactly 71 years and one day before Syd would reopen his grocery store (as shown in the dated newspaper article above).
Even though I knew it was coming, waking up to see it posted was overwhelming in the best way. It was a full-circle moment, not just for me, but for our entire family story.
I immediately thought of my grandfather.
Of the fire.
Of how he nearly lost everything.
Of how Tommy Gallant and BMO helped him get back on his feet.
And how proud he would be to see his grandson’s company recognized by the very bank that helped rebuild his life.
See the BMO post about Picture Perfect Cleaning here.
Shared Values — Then and Now
When I was in high school, we were asked to choose a Canadian hero for a project. Most chose athletes or celebrities. I chose John Molson, a business icon and one of the major founders of BMO.
He once said:
“We are all members of a larger community, which depends on everyone playing their part.”
That philosophy guided BMO in 1954.
It guides them today.
And it guides us at Picture Perfect Cleaning.
We believe that business is about people.
About service.
About community.
About showing up consistently. Not because it’s profitable, but because it’s right.
These values are at the core of Picture Perfect Cleaning’s mission: supporting newcomers, giving back to the community, sponsoring local sports, and ensuring our custodians, who are the heart of our company, feel valued and supported.
Thank You, BMO
Thank you, BMO, for:
- Believing in my grandfather when he needed it most
- Supporting our family for more than 70 years
- Recognizing Picture Perfect Cleaning for its values-driven approach
- Celebrating our focus on disciplined operations, scalable systems, and proactive communication
- Showing that a janitorial company can be a force for good in Calgary and Edmonton
Most importantly, thank you for proving, generation after generation, that customer service, community values, and relationship-driven banking never go out of style.
Our story with BMO began with Tommy Gallant.
It continues today with Ashley, the Seton branch, and the entire BMO team.
And it will continue for generations to come.
