Blair David Stannard

In Loving Memory

It is with deep heartfelt sorrow the family would like to announce the passing of Blair David Stannard on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the age of 79, following ongoing cardiac illness.

 
In his final hours, Blair was surrounded by love, laughter, and the presence of family. Although Blair was passionate about many things throughout his life family and friends always came first.

Beloved son of the late Frank and Beverley Stannard (née Burch), and of his birth mother Marion Isabelle Stannard (née Higgs). Blair leaves behind his beloved daughter Jennifer and her mother Irene Vachon.

 
Always a vital member of his family, Blair will be deeply missed by his sisters, Sharon Stannard-Shergold (Reg Shergold) and Valerie Jerabek (Peter), as well as his many nieces, nephews, great and great-great members of his extended family, and many friends and communities. The memories of his kindness, generosity, sharp mind, and unwavering sense of humour will help us all moving forward.

 
A proud Mensa member, his intelligence, curiosity, and wit left a lasting impression on those who knew him. A lifelong philatelist, he had a passion for stamp collecting that began in childhood and remained with him throughout his life. In recognition of his dedication to the field, he was also an honorary member of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada. A longtime member of the Monarchist League of Canada, Blair held a deep appreciation for history, tradition, and public life. His loving nature carried him into many areas throughout his lifetime. His deep love for cats was a key part of his life along with his longtime appreciation for the arts, particularly ballet. He was a devoted supporter of performances at the National Arts Centre for many decades. He took great joy in sharing his love of ballet with his daughter Jennifer from an early age.

 
He dedicated a significant part of his career to the federal public service and to the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), where he served as a prominent full-time Vice-President during the 1990s and 2000s, dedicating his career to advocating for federal public service employees. The friendships and connections he built there remained deeply meaningful to him throughout his life.

In retirement, Blair continued to share historical photographs and stories of Ottawa and Bytown through online communities, helping preserve local history for others to enjoy.

 
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the healthcare teams who supported Blair throughout the years, including the Ottawa Hospital campuses at Riverside, General, and Civic, as well as Montfort Hospital and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, for their care and compassion.

A Celebration of Life will be held in September 2026 in honour of what would have been his 80th birthday. Details and updates will be shared at:
https://everloved.com/life-of/blair-stannard/

 
In lieu of flowers, donations in Blair’s memory to the Canadian Red Cross (https://www.redcross.ca/), or the Ottawa Food Bank (https://www.ottawafoodbank.ca/), would be sincerely appreciated.

Cremation services by Simple Choice Cremation 613-692-5353.