Edward Stirling (Bones) Blanchard was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on 14 February 1886 to Edward Sherbourne Blanchard, resident physician at Falconwood Hospital, and his wife Ella May Lea. Following attendance at Prince of Wales College he enrolled in architecture at McGill University, receiving his Bachelor of Architecture degree ca. 1910. He remained in Montreal for a time working for the leading Montreal firm of Ross & McFarlane then opened his own office in partnership with G.E. Conrad. When World War I broke out, he enlisted in the 105th Battalion, going overseas in 1916 as a bombing officer. He was wounded early in 1918 and returned to Canada to pursue an active career in architecture for over thirty years in the city of his birth. Blanchard was a Member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (MRAIC). He died on 17 December 1953 at the age of 57.

Although the bulk of Blanchard's work was the design and renovation of residential buildings he also designed public structures such as schools, hospitals and municipal buildings, commercial offices, stores, and building blocks. His progressive views on architectural styles and his interest in art deco (1930s) and moderne (1940s) styles, combined with his inventiveness and originality made him one of Canada's most successful architects. Outside his professional interests he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid gardener, maintaining extensive gardens at his home on Greenfield St. in Charlottetown and his summer home in Bay Fortune.