[4] Galiano arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia, on 21 February 1914 to start her duties in the fisheries protection service as a patrol boat with the prefix Canadian Government Ship (CGS).

After the First World War broke out, Galiano and sister ship Malaspina alternated between naval and civic duties along the Pacific coast, being retained as part of the government fleet.

At the time she was estimated to be within visual range of the light at Cape St. James 153 kilometres (95 mi) from Triangle Island where the call was picked up by wireless operator Arthur A.

[8] The official naval inquiry, lacking any survivors came to the conclusion that the stormy weather was the sole cause of the sinking, an explanation that some, including the Galiano's first officer[note 3] and the shipmaster of its sister ship, the Malaspina, expressed doubt in.

[1] The Naval Memorial in Ross Bay Cemetery, Vancouver Island, British Columbia bears the names of 39 officers and men who were lost at sea.

[9] In honour of Galiano and her crew, Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt (CFFS(E)) named its damage control training facility after the lost ship.