Lots of talk of the recovery being well under way and there is some data to back this up. However the old saying 'watch what they do, not what they say' would indicate that any potential recovery is tenuous and slow. Therefore I thought I'd do a quick poll of BE'ers about their perception of what is happening.

There is no option for a tenuous and slow recovery. Which is what I would have voted for.

I guess I could have added that. But I was really after a black and white, the recovery is here / no it isn't kind of thing.
(and I can't edit the poll, or at least I don't know how to)

No idea about the recession, but we've got more work than people at the moment.

I agree with JonboyE, I am not convinced it's over, that we have had the worst, nor that it could take much for it too all slide down hill again.

We heard today that the factory where my husband worked in England was closing, if we had stayed in England he would have been made redundant. Last week another large factory closed in the area we used to live.

From a purely selfish perspective I've not noticed the recession - my business hasn't been effected, and life's gone on just the same.

This area of BC has certainly seen the knock on effect of the recession (lumber businesses suffering, construction trades laying off employees etc), but little talk of foreclosures, very few empty store fronts and house pricing dropped a little, but not a great deal. Sales volume of housing is apparently approaching pre-recession levels again.

What was very noticeable during 4 days in Atlanta last week was the contrast of reasonable optimism locally, and the depressing downbeat attitude of US citizens and their local news stories.

The poor sods who work in a paper mill in kitimat are going to feel it.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-col...t-closure.html

That's the end of that town - 500 jobs at the mill, and three times that locally.

coming up to a year of a 15% pay cut - no end in sight

That's a hard one, depends what sector you are in and what part of canada.

In Al-berda, the short term looks a little sketchy, but the long term is downright peachy with oil prices steadily recovering.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/busines...362/story.html

If I was in the manufacturing belt of Ontario I'd be bricking it, once those factories close they don't seem to come back.

But then if I was RICH in Kamloops I'd just look outside my window every morning at the staggering view and not really give a monkey's.

Same in transportation in BC. We are so busy, as are all the consultancys it seems and struggling to recruit

I have to say, not really noticed the recession. We both can be extremely grateful to say that we are still in employment. My husbands in oil, and I am in education in Calgary.

When recession hits, kids go to school.

Thankfully his oil company merged with another to make it the biggest in Canada and the 5th largest in North american.

All in all we are very fortunate, for which I am thankful for on a daily basis.

In Ontario: from dealing with small n medium enterprises, there is a definite anticipation of another 12 months of pain. Many many bankruptcies are expected because SMEs have already strung out for as long as they can these past 12 months. Lots of low paying , part jobs are available but nothing close to even a 'career'. Divorce rates have dropped, as any family lawyer will tell you happens in a recession. Large corporations have already cut to the bone, and are now examining their projected "pension" obligations with employees left on payroll. Benefits such as medical coverage, vacations, maternal/paternal/compassionate leave are also being minimized to that prescribed by law only. At this point one is left wondering whether Ontario is Canada's Bre-X. The hype of a recovery continues, but walk the streets and travel the subways, stop at cafes, walk through malls. Very hard to find any quality transactions happening. Pubs are full though.

I am so sorry, I dont know what to say.

http://www.cite7.org/employment_opportunities/index.php

This was in my inbox this morning

5/5 of the consultancy positions are in BC

The public sector always does well in recessions.