The first shopping centre was opened in Canada in 1950, and this form of retailing experienced a building boom specially in the 60s and 70s, when the centres were sometimes even built before people had moved into the new neighborhoods. In the 70s and 80s many shopping centres have also been built in the downtowns of the big Canadian cities. However, since the mid-80s, far less new centres have been opened than before. It seems that the life cycle of the shopping centre is coming to its end. There are many reasons for this development. Maintenance costs and rents are high, shopping centres tend to resemble one another, there is probable an over-capacity and the centres don't offer public but at best semi-public spaces. Over the last few years so-called big boxes and power centres with discount stores have been built in many places. These might be the successors of the traditional shopping centre.