A new study conducted by A.T. Kearney consultants and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs on globalization published in the Washington, D.C.-based Foreign Policy magazine ranks Toronto as the world’s fourth best city in which to experience culture. Only New York, London, and Paris rank higher than Toronto in this category. In the November/December issue 60 urban areas around the globe were assessed in 5 categories - business, human capital, culture, global political influence and the centrality of the city to global information flows. Overall Toronto ranked 10th in the list:
1.    New York
2.    London
3.    Paris
4.    Tokyo
5.    Hong Kong
6.    Los Angeles
7.    Singapore
8.    Chicago
9.    Seoul
10.    Toronto

However when it comes to culture, Toronto was much higher up the ranks. Toronto’s impressive international cuisine and the performing arts were considered standouts. Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra were specifically cited. However we lost ground in the international business (26th place) and global political influence (24th place) categories. In the world of higher education we rank 13th as the best place to take a university degree.

I think that it’s fabulous that Toronto has been recognized in such an impressive manner. We tend to think of ourselves as poor cousins to the world’s great cities. But, clearly that is not the case. Not only are we a player, but we are a major player on the world stage.