My fellow Canucks will be familiar with these stores:
Simpson's and Eaton's--both department stores no longer exist
The Simpson's (now a Sears store) at Fairview Mall used to have a horsey ride that only cost a dime. Other rides at the mall cost 25 cents. I was 11 1/2-12 when the last Simpson's store closed so I don't really remember too much about it, other than kid-related things. However, my mother said that the larger stores sold great stuff that might not be found in other department stores. Luckily, The Bay at the Eaton Centre (which took over the old Simpson's spot) sells most of what Simpson's used to sell.
Side note: Hudson's Bay Company is being sold to Target, and apparently, some of its Zeller's stores will be converted to Target as well as some of its smaller Bay stores (apparently, anyway). Luckily, not all of them are being converted, or else my mom will once again be talking about the downgrading of mid-range Canadian shopping (Larger Simpson's (and Eaton's too) stores were slightly higher-end than Sears, according to my mom)
Eaton's--> Closed a couple of years ago, also converting to Sears (malls that formerly had both Eaton's and Sears converted one of the stores to smaller stores or perhaps big box stores, depending on the local clientele). The Eaton Centre is still calls itself "The Eaton Centre", despite the fact that the store isn't there anymore
Other stores I miss: KMart pulled out of Canada in the late 90s. Woolco (a division of Woolworth's) closed in the mid 90s too.
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