Meet the Team

Bert Hill

A one-time General Insurance Agent, Bert Hill’s career in Real Estate Management began in 1962 at Newcastle Realty in Nanaimo. Starting as a Realtor, he was a mere two years in the business when he was asked to come on board as co-owner and manager of the Company. When Block Bros. came to town a few years later, they approached Bert and his partner to buy Newcastle Realty and Bert stayed on as manager and shareholder. Bert worked the ICI Division with "Blocks" as well as overseeing up to 50 salespeople at one time.

During his time with Block Bros., Bert developed subdivisions in Nanaimo and on Gabriola and was instrumental in bringing the Commercial Core to "Downtown" Gabriola. He was also instrumental in bringing what we now know as the “MLS” concept to the industry.

Since that time, he has managed two other real estate companies, was a mortgage broker with Canada Permanent Trust and owned Home Realty in Nanaimo before moving to Gabriola Island, where Island West Realty was born. Like the world of Real Estate that is constantly changing and progressing, Bert’s company has now grown to include his eldest daughter Darlene, and her mother Eileen who were both born and raised in Nanaimo. As a result, the company has recently relocated its office to downtown Nanaimo on the main street. You can reach Bert either at the newly opened office on Church St. in Nanaimo or at the same number on Gabriola Island where he is always willing to share his vast experience with all of the Island West clients past, present and future!

Darlene Hill

Darlene was born and raised in Nanaimo and, after traveling throughout the world and living in Ontario and California, is certain that Nanaimo and its surrounding areas are, without question, one of the most beautiful and desirable places in the World to live, work and enjoy life. Darlene has a 30 year background in coaching sports on a Provincial, National and World level and was also a registered Nurse for over 15 years. Her background gives her in depth ability for relating to people and empathy so important to finding out what matters most to all of her clients.

Darlene has always been surrounded by the sales industry and always believes that promises and honesty should still mean something in business. Her long time goal of coming home to Nanaimo was realized 4 years ago and working with her parents Bert and Eileen in Real Estate provides an atmosphere of unity and cooperation that Darlene is sure has an impact on how Island West’s’ clients are treated and respected. The creed she and her family at Island West live by is “treat everyone the way we wish ourselves to be treated”

Eileen Murray

Being born and raised here in Nanaimo, Eileen knows the city and its surrounding areas as well as anyone and has watched Nanaimo grow and change over the years. She has also lived in Vancouver, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia where she first worked as Realtor. Still, Nanaimo was the place she wanted to return to with its natural beauty and familiar places and faces. With an extensive sales background spanning over 35 years, Eileen is no stranger to the diverse needs of the population here on the West Coast.

She also has a long and successful career background in Interior design and staging and offers these as part of her Real Estate services. Eileen believes that it is the attention to the small details that make a business successful and also treating clients with respect, thoughtfulness and consideration.