In March of 1919, students at Nutana Collegiate (called Saskatoon Collegiate Institute until 1923) announced they would establish a memorial for the 29 alumni soldiers who died in the First World War. Principal Alfred J. Pyke instead suggested creating a Memorial Art Gallery that consisted exclusively of paintings by Canadian artists. They purchased one painting by a different artist for each fallen soldier.
Thomas Garland Greene's Maple Sap was acquired in 1923 and dedicated to Lance Sergeant Frederick Bradford Sheck. Frederick attended Saskatoon Collegiate Institute from 1911 to 1914. He enlisted on 4 March 1916 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry at Vimy Ridge. Frederick was killed at Passchendaele while inspecting his gun crew on 15 November 1917.
