According to myth, Icarus' father Daedalus, under an unjust sentence of death by King Minos of Crete, created wings of feather and wax with which he and his son could fly to freedom.

When an exhilarated Icarus flew too high, the heat of the sun destroyed his wings, melting the wax that held the feathers together.

[1] Circling the figure, representing a single binding cause, is a knight's belt which displays, in gold letters, the motto "Despite Adversity".

The golden loop which suspends the insignia is adorned with a maple leaf in honor of the Canadian origin of the Order.

The neck ribbon has a broad white center stripe which represents flight's purity before the golden sun.