Sean Bourque

This paper examines the major changes that the Canadian Department store system has undergone from 1993-2005 and the impacts on shopping centre growth. In addition, it explores how power centers have impacted shopping centre growth through their effects on department stores. The study, which focuses on the six metropolitan cities of Toronto, Ottawa-Gatineau, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, reveals that in 1993, Canada had 155 large shopping centres with many anchored by Eatons, The Bay, Sears, Zellers, Woolco and Kmart. A decade later there were 160 shopping centres, but only three department store chains remained. While shopping centre growth has largely been constant, power centres have grown from only a few in the early 1990s to 188 in 2006. This change in the retail landscape has caused a decline in the department store market share. It has also resulted in shopping centres to modify their tenant selection and mix. Many of them are moving more towards a service oriented role, as exemplified in West Edmonton Mall and Seaway Mall.