I awoke this morning to the sound of rain. And not just a drizzle, but the sound of when the clouds bash up against the mountains and bring us weeks on end of grey skies and wet clothing. The rain is a gift, and I know that it’s because of our months of rain that we boast one of the most lush and green places in the world.

It is often hard, throughout the winter months, to feel thankful for the rain… Especially when it thwarts plans that have already been made, but sometimes the rain helps to show you just how determined some people are. For the rain, and the lessons that I learned from it today, I am very thankful.

The people who came together today in honour of the lost Salmon, and the Salmon that we are losing everyday, are people who should be recognized. The paddlers left Jericho this morning, and arrived at Vanier Park to begin the walk into downtown and to the Vancouver Art Gallery. These determined and amazing men, women and children came out in numbers greater than I ever expected on such an awful day to stand up and say, “NO more fish farms, We want our Wild Salmon protected!”

They walked through puddles and peril, over the Burrard Street bridge, through the heart of downtown Vancouver. Drums were played and through a sea of umbrellas, signs with beautiful painted fish held high could be seen. Places from all over British Columbia were represented today in our hearts and with signs showing British Columbian Lake, River and Ocean communities.

The weather was so horrible this morning, I seriously considered staying home. The above pictures were the only ones that I managed to take with the fancy camera that was lent to me by a great friend. It was so wet, I was scared to use the thing, and opted instead for his smaller point and shoot model, with an umbrella hat on my head and a plastic bag over the machine itself, I did the best I could with a bad weather situation.

As we walked across the bridge, I was stressing because I wasn’t willing to use the more incredible camera. I knew that the shots I took with the point and shoot weren’t going to be the same. But as I walked, and started to think about why I got the fancy camera in the first place… I realized that it was never the equipment or the machine that was responsible for the pictures, It was simply me. As this wave of relaxation came over me at Robson and Burrard, Suddenly my pictures became better and I’m glad to say that I worried for nothing. I feel proud of the part I’ve played in documenting this day despite a lot of challenges surrounding it. I’m excited to share with you these photos…. In some of them, if you look close enough you can see how hard the rain was coming down.

The determination of the people in the crowd, to raise awareness for these beautiful fish, was not unlike that of the Salmon themselves, who fight endlessly to get back to their streams to spawn. Who swim amazing distances throughout their lifetimes… And who affect the people of this province in such a fundamental way that we barely even pay mind to it. They have always been there, but they may not always be there… without the strong and courageous people who organized this event and many others throughout the months and years to bring attention to the services the Salmon provide our communities.

Seeing traditional singing and drum playing, with clothing and leathers made by loving local hands, was truly incredible. Being raised in British Columbia makes me feel especially tied to the spirits and ancestry which these people come together to protect. So many signs had slogans like, “We are all Connected”, or, “We Share A Future”.. And marching with these people I could truly feel that common thread. It filled my heart up because I know what committed groups like this one can achieve. And with growing awareness, and educational efforts, we can count on a future generation who takes note where we have failed to. Like everything, I believe it takes teaching to really move forward. It was encouraging to see like minded people asking for eco conscious solutions to today’s environmental issues.

I always try to remember that every person we pass is a potential supporter, and I like to catch the occasional shot with an onlooker or two. The man in the back of this Vancouver City Truck may not have given Salmon a single thought today, but now… because of these protesters.. He has. Maybe it will make him choose a little wiser today. We never know who we are going to affect with our decisions.

We received loud cheers and honks from motorists along our entire walk. And I know I was not in the minority when I say that by noon I was soaked right through. It was an amazing experience that I would gladly take part in again and again, despite the obvious issues with wetness, it again made me appreciate all that the Salmon go through at this time of year.

Let’s Put Salmon First.