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.
Marion Long's Pauline was acquired in 1924 and dedicated to Lieutenant William Douglas Aird. William attended Saskatoon Collegiate Institute from 1911 to 1915. He enlisted in September 1915 and was killed at Passchendaele on 26 October 1917.
