Situated on the Shediac Bay, the municipality of Grande-Digue, formerly Gédaïque, appeared attractive to its first permanent settlers, Pierre and Joseph Arsenault, Michel Haché dit Gallant, Joseph Poirier and Joseph Caissie, all from Memramcook. They settled there around 1788 to cultivate new land. Acadian athlete Joël Bourgeois, who participated in the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics, is originally from Grande-Digue.