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.
Frederic Marlett Bell-Smith's In Northern Waters was acquired in 1920 and dedicated to Private James Eric Bartlett. James attended Saskatoon Collegiate Institute in 1909 and 1910. He enlisted on 8 November 1915 and was reporting missing after the battle of Hooge on 6 June 1916.
