The stone frigate takes its name from HMS Discovery, the ship used by George Vancouver to chart most of North America's northwestern coast.

Discovery traces its history to the creation of the "Number 2 (Vancouver) Company" of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve at the beginning of the First World War.

HMCS Discovery continues to serve as a training facility, force-generating personnel for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations.

Discovery personnel have been deployed to Korea, the Persian Gulf, Egypt, Bosnia, Iraq, Japan, Golan Heights and Afghanistan.

Sir Arthur W. Cochran, Clarenceaux King of Arms, suggested that the badge of HMCS Discovery take the form of a rebus.