The only B.C. Liberal MLA seeking re-election on Vancouver Island has announced a $169,403 grant to the Gabriola Arts Council.

Normally, arts funding is delivered through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, which is headed by Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Peter Fassbender.

In this instance, the money came from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation through its community and employer partnerships program.

The minister, Michelle Stilwell, represents Parksville-Qualicum.

Gabriola Island is five kilometres east of Nanaimo and is known as the "Isle of the Arts".

“With these projects, three people are gaining meaningful and transferable work experience in construction and finishing, and one person is learning event planning, positioning them all for better career opportunities ahead," Stilwell said in a government news release. "The value of these projects is evident with the strong collaboration of many partners who are all seeing the benefit of creating arts and culture spaces along with programming."

The money will fund two job-creation partnerships with the Gabriola Arts Council and offer paid work experience to four residents of the island.

It will result in a hand-built log structure being built as the council's new administrative office.

“This project helps to fulfil the Gabriola Arts Council’s goal of completing the renovation and restoration work on the Gabriola Arts & Heritage Centre," council chair Charlie Cheffins said in the news release, "while also creating new and much-needed administrative and storage space for GAC, in a project involving numerous community partners, and that supports cultural, social, and economic development on Gabriola Island.”

According to the news relese, the funding will also create "a year’s worth of arts and culture programming and a renovated community cultural centre".

"Programming will target all ages and support the local economy by drawing locals and tourists to participate in workshops, performances and other special events reflecting the diverse cultural history and active arts community of the island."