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Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given is hearing a confident tone around his city these days, a hope that the worst of the region’s economic downturn is, perhaps, over.

But it’s said with caution. In hushed tones, while knocking on wood and throwing salt over one’s shoulder.

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“It’s not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it’s absolutely something,” Given said.

This time last year, residents in his northwest Alberta community were asking themselves ‘How bad can it get?’ and doing the best to prepare for a worst-case scenario.

“Over the course of the last year or so, in many cases the worst has happened — absolutely, people have lost their jobs and companies have closed their doors — but now we do see people saying ‘OK, we’re through that now,'” he said.

Many are still out of work or getting less hours than they need to make ends meet, but some sectors in Grande Prairie are hiring and some businesses are starting to see a slight uptick in spending.