Volunteer Spotlight: Teresa Ostman

If you’ve ever received a Nanaimo Lifeline Check-In, call on a Friday morning, there’s a good chance you’ve already experienced Teresa Ostman’s kindness firsthand. With a warm voice and a genuine love for connection, Teresa brings comfort, consistency, and a sense of care to every conversation she has.

Teresa is deeply rooted in the world of health and wellness. As the editor and publisher of five Wellnessnews newsletters across Vancouver Island, she spends her days sharing helpful information and building connections in the community. She also produces health and wellness fairs, manages an online resource platform, and volunteers with Act3, a television program for seniors. Despite her full schedule, she still carves out time each week to give back through the Nanaimo Lifeline Check-In service.

Since starting in December 2020, Teresa has made it her routine to dedicate Friday mornings to connecting with individuals who may otherwise go through the day without hearing a friendly voice. For her, every call matters.

“Sometimes a meaningful shift is getting a reaction, a smile, or a laugh,” she shares. “Other times, it’s simply knowing I might be the only human voice someone hears that day.”

That perspective is what makes Teresa’s impact so powerful. Her calls are not just check-ins. They are moments of connection that bring reassurance to both recipients and their families.

Teresa’s journey into volunteering is deeply personal. After spending almost a decade visiting her parents regularly, she made a promise to her father that she would continue spending time with seniors. Just two months after he passed, she began volunteering with Lifeline and has been showing up ever since.

Her outlook on giving back is shaped by a powerful experience that has stayed with her for decades.

Years ago, as a member of Rotary, Teresa took on the role of organizing and hosting a weekend retreat for Grade 11 students from local high schools. The retreat brought together 45 students for a weekend focused not just on practical skills like resume writing and interview preparation, but also on building confidence, self-belief, and interpersonal skills. It was an opportunity for students to step outside their day-to-day lives, connect with one another, and start to see new possibilities for their future.

At the time, it felt like a meaningful weekend. But like many volunteer efforts, the true impact wasn’t immediately visible.

Six years later, Teresa received a call from a fellow Rotarian who had helped with the retreat. By chance, he had met one of the students who attended that weekend. She shared that she had been struggling at the time and was on the verge of dropping out of school. That retreat changed her trajectory. It gave her the confidence to stay, finish high school, and ultimately go on to graduate from university. She was now working as a financial officer at a bank.

What keeps Teresa motivated is her unwavering belief that what she does matters. Even on challenging days, she focuses on the difference she’s making and reminds herself to keep going, one call at a time.

Outside of volunteering, you’ll likely find Teresa out on a hike, soaking in the calm of nature. It’s her way of recharging and staying grounded, something she believes is just as important as the work she does for others.

When asked what she loves most about volunteering, her answer is simple. It’s the people.

“I’ve formed relationships with many of the individuals I call. Those Friday mornings are often the highlight of my week.”

For anyone considering volunteering, Teresa offers thoughtful advice. Try it. There are so many ways to get involved, and chances are, there is something that will feel like the right fit. For her, it has been one of the most rewarding ways to give back.

Through her time, her voice, and her genuine care for others, Teresa is helping create a stronger, more connected community. And every Friday morning, that impact is felt one call at a time.