The old suburbs look different than new suburbs and you seem to have problem understanding this and that old suburbs don't use box stores or power centers.
The pictures I posted above run in conflict of what you are saying because they are using strip along the road.And box stores or power centers DO NOT use strip but stores in parking lot by a intersection.
I'm saying this is how it is in most Toronto suburbs.
Just look at the store strip along the road you will not find this in new suburbs.Look how the stores are almost at the street and the density.