Bill Yoachim - City Council

I was born and raised in Nanaimo where I lived on Second Street in the Fairview/Harewood community. I attended Fairview Elementary, John Barsby Junior High and Nanaimo District Senior Secondary. Nanaimo has always been my first choice to call home and raise a family. Today I reside in Cinnabar Valley with my beautiful wife Lori, a VIU graduate and Registered Nurse at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital, and my amazing daughter Samantha (5 years old). Family is the reason I feel it is so important for me to help create a community that recognizes its strengths through diversity, raises children to serve and give back to their community, and is thriving because we have nurtured the creativity that stimulates growth.

I treasure the many friends I made growing up in Nanaimo. They have all enriched my personal, professional, and public life. These relationships have engendered great love for the city, a passion to speak up, and a commitment to do my part and give back.

The values of community service and leadership were instilled in me early in life. I have served on the elected council of the Snuneymuxw First Nation for 12 years. Professionally, I am the Executive Director of Kwumut Lelum Child and Family Services where I work to help better the lives of children in need. Recognizing the importance of growing and strengthening the whole region, I have also served on the Board of Directors of VIU for 6 years and on the Nanaimo Economic Development Corporation for 2 years.

I value the importance of education and am proud of the hard work I put in to achieving two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Social work.

I aspire to bring respect, dignity, unity, and service into everything I do. I look forward to serving you in the years ahead and respectfully ask for your support for City Council on November 15, 2014.

Platform (Max. 350 words):
New Leadership and a fresh New Vision are needed if we are to both revitalize our economy and manage our environment in a balanced and insightful way.

A New Way of Doing Business is also needed in which YOU, the voter, can see your ideas, opinions and values reflected in the decisions and actions taken.

To these ends I am truly committed to be YOUR VOICE for change so together we can:

-Create a culture of inclusion and accountability at City Hall
-Stake out a new plan to rein in taxation and address poverty
-Protect our cherished parks and natural environment while spurring on well managed economic development initiatives
-Build stronger bridges with key stakeholders in the region
-Increase wellness, health, and recreation opportunities for children, youth, elders and families
-Make strategic investments to create well-paying jobs

It’s Time for a Change

I’ve listened to your calls for a new vision and a new way of doing business and ask for your support so I can advocate for the open and transparent leadership you deserve and our bright future requires!

Website address: http://www.yoachim.ca
Facebook page: Facebook.com/billyoachim
Twitter: @wyoachim