The rain didn't let up yesterday and neither did those opposed to logging of old-growth trees, as a thick pack of protesters bearing umbrellas and raincoats marched from Centennial Square down Government Street to the legislature.

About 500 people came out for the rally, organized by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, despite the steady rain that fell for most of the morning and early afternoon.

Their aim was to push the government to protect old-growth trees by focusing on sustainable second-growth logging, and to protect jobs by banning the export of raw logs to the United States.

Victoria resident Elaine Morton joked about the "silly costume" she was wearing -- a cardboard evergreen tree sticking up from her shoulders -- but said she takes the cause very seriously.

"I think the environment is the most important issue, period," said the 50-year-old, whose passion for the environment was sparked at an early age thanks to her parents.

"I've watched Vancouver Island get shaved off and built on," she said. Morton said it puzzles her that the provincial government is still pursuing a "regressive, resource-driven" economy. The government should be promoting our old-growth trees as a tourist attraction instead of condemning them to sawmills, she said.

Tom Thorson was glad to see that the rally was attended by a broad spectrum of people -- university students, retirees and families. "People forget that the environment impacts every aspect of their lives," he said.

Emily Semple brought her two daughters, Loreena, 6, and Rebecca, 4, clad in colourful plastic raincoats, to teach them how important ancient trees are to a sustainable environment. "There's a lot of carbon stored in those old-growth trees," said Semple, an environmental sciences student at the University of Victoria. "I tell them about the different animals that can live in those trees."

One of the Wilderness Committee organizers, Tara Sawatsky, said that while the turnout was half the 1,000-strong march they were hoping for, the dedicated bunch that rallied yesterday sent the message that the Island cares about ancient forests and forestry jobs.

Kent Maynard, 28, said he learned about the cause three years ago when he moved to B.C. from Newfoundland. "I think it matters especially in bad weather like this that we come out," said Maynard, clad in galoshes and head-to-toe rain gear. "It's hard to stand in the forest and not see that it's worth protecting."