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Marie-Claude Lortie, a columnist at La Presse in Montreal, posed a question the other day that no Québecois has dared ask: “Toronto plus cool que Montréal?” Translation, for those who need one: Is Toronto now cooler than Montreal?

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Toronto’s presumed ranking on the coolness scale has been stuck for years below New York (bigger and more fun) and Montreal (smoked meat, respectable bagels and a decent hockey team) and others besides. Now there is change afoot.

On Monday La Presse published Ms. Lortie’s guidebook, Carnet d’une urbaine à Toronto — Notebook of a Downtowner in Toronto.It is packed with her breathless descriptions of funky boutiques and mouth-watering delicacies.

And she is not alone in her glowing review.

Libération, the Paris newspaper, last week proclaimed “Toronto-mania,” noting, “Toronto is seducing young Canadians.” Writing on the BBC’s web site, journalist David Allan asked, “When Did Toronto Get So Cool?”