Dinu Bumbaru

Since 1982, he has worked with Héritage Montréal, an independent body dedicated to promoting and renewing the city’s architectural and urban heritage. He is also the Vice-President of the Institut de politiques alternatives de Montréal (IPAM).

Widely recognized as a reference in his field, Dinu Bumbaru has taken part in many conferences, courses and projects throughout the world. The media regularly call on his expertise to inform the public about issues related to Montréal’s heritage. In 2000, he co-wrote the Déclaration québécoise du patrimoine and was one of the founders of the Université de Montréal built heritage conservation program.

Bumbaru has served on many committees, including the Board of Directors of Culture Montréal, which he helped found, Les Amis de la montagne and the Table de concertation du Mont-Royal, as well as the advisory committees on the New Champlain Bridge and the restoration of Ste. Catherine St. West. He advised the Québec Minister of Culture on updating the Cultural Property Act and took part in the meetings of the Minister’s Round Table on Parks Canada. He also serves on the Japanese government’s expert committee on industrial heritage.

On the world stage, Dinu Bumbaru is actively involved in the International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a worldwide, non-governmental, multidisciplinary body associated with UNESCO, serving as Secretary General of the international organization and Chair of its Canadian committee. With ICOMOS, he has taken part in heritage protection missions to war and natural disaster zones.

His many contributions have earned him numerous distinctions, including the Robert-Lionel-Séguin award from the Amis et propriétaires de maisons anciennes du Québec, in 2000, the Prix Blanche-Lemco-Van Ginkel award from the Ordre des urbanistes du Québec, in 2003, the UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage medal from the Université Laval, in 2004, the Lieutenant-Governor’s award from the Heritage Canada Foundation and the Thomas-Baillairgé award from the Ordre des architectes du Québec, in 2008, the Prix du Québec Gérard-Morrisset for cultural heritage, in 2012, and the Prix du Mont-Royal, in 2016. He was made a Fellow of the Order of Canada in 2008.

Dinu Bumbaru has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Université de Montréal, a certificate in architectural conservation from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and a master’s of arts in conservation studies from the University of York in England.