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Alberta finally saw the recessionary storm end in 2017 after enduring a deluge of pink slips and negative news following the oil price collapse more than three years ago.

While 2017 remained a difficult year for many Albertans, the worst was finally over.

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By the end of December, oil had rebounded back above US$60 a barrel — more than double its lowest point in 2016 — and the economy began growing.

For Alberta, 2017 also saw an unexpected series of twists and turns surrounding proposed pipelines, while a number of international companies left the oilsands and the city’s downtown was swamped by vacant office towers.

All of these developments commanded headlines on the business pages.

But it’s the return of economic expansion — albeit a fragile rally with weak job recovery — that goes down as the top business story of the year in the province.

“I think 2017 was a rebound year for Alberta,” says Todd Hirsch, chief economist with ATB Financial.