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They call it Petit Paris.

The little strip of Laurier Ave E., between Laurier Park and Papineau St., is so saturated with French people, Isabelle Coulombe estimates they make up more than 75 per cent of her business.

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“I see new faces every day,” said the owner of Fromagerie Maître Corbeau, at the corner of Laurier and Chambord St.

Coulombe, who took over the cheese shop one year ago, has seen her neighbourhood change dramatically over the past 25 years.

“Now it’s practically only French people living here,” she said.

Housing prices have increased, as have rents, which Coulombe learned the hard way as she found herself looking for an apartment at the end of the summer after being evicted from her old place by the building’s new owners, one of whom is originally from France.

“The market has changed,” she said. “French people arrive here with their Euros and become landlords really fast. The rents have gone up quickly because of that. And (French renters) don’t know the rental board rules.”