William (Bill) Yoachim, Sqwulutsultun | Board Member
Executive Director Kw’umut Lelum Child & Family Services
William (Bill) Yoachim is a proud member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and is the founder and Executive Director of Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services in Nanaimo. His early career was in social work and youth outreach and he holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria. He has served as elected Councilor for Snuneymuxw since 2020 (and from 2002-14) and on Nanaimo City Council from 2014-18. He is the co-founder of the Hope and Health movement, and a member of the Assembly of First Nations’ Chiefs Committee on Child and Family Services and Self-Determination.
Bill served on the Board of Directors of Vancouver Island University for six years where he helped to implement a tuition waiver program for children in care that is now province-wide. He also sat on the Nanaimo Economic Development Committee for two years. In 2020 he was awarded the BC Achievement Community Award for his incredible contributions to community In 2021, in collaboration with the Kw’umut Lelum member Nations, Bill officially launched Kw’umut Lelum Foundation. Bill’s work is guided by nutsumaat shqwaluwun – together with one heart and one mind.
