A giant poster in Square One's Mall, in Mississauga
The irony is not noticed by the poster-hanger-uppers,
that she is standing right by the dollar store, despite her
exotic and glamorous outfit
[Photo By: KPA]
One would think one were in Delhi, or Mumbai, with this photo. It looks like an Indian movie star, glamorous and exotic, with her sari veil trailing behind her.
In fact, it is in Mississauga's Square One Mall.
The mall is carefully trying to attract that elusive Multi-Culti crowd. Who should it be? Halal-eating Muslims? Bubble tea-drinking Chinese? Sari-wearing Indians?
The one movie theater, which used to play Indian movies (and some Chinese) closed down, but what really happened was that it got relocated to some other place where mainstream movies would attract audiences. Mall visitors were patronizing the "foreign" movies, but not enough to make a profit.
The mall is touting itself as a luxury mall, after a recent major renovation. But I think that is a strategy to get out-of-town shoppers in, who would spend more money than the multicultural crowd. And perhaps even some "destination shoppers" from just across the border from Niagara Falls might be lured over to a trip in Toronto while visiting the Falls. There are similar malls out west in Alberta, and one that I know if in the US in Minnesota, and Mississauga's is now #3 in Canada.
Multiculturalism hasn't helped Canada. This reflex action to keep insisting on adding that "ingredient" simply has bankrupt businesses, or forced them to change strategy.
Canadian malls are about Sears, the Bay, Walmart, Target, and the myriad of boutiques and stores that make people happy to shop. Sears right now has been closed down in Square one, and the Bay is hardly the full and vibrant department store it used to be a couple of years ago.
And if Harper is to get his economy rolling, and to keep on rolling, he better think in these terms.
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Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
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