In the beginning it was  just a strip of land along a salt water bay. A river flowing to the bay had become an oasis for hunting and fishing by the Micmac people who called it Esedeiik. This title became the name that the first Acadian settlers were to call the whole area: Gedaique and later on, through phonetic distortions, Shediac.

Some Acadian families found refuge in this area during the 1755 deportation but didn’t file land claims until 1791. At that time Shediac was still the name that was used for the whole area. Even today the parish of Grande-Digue retains many references to its original designation: the community of Shediac River, the river itself and Shediac Bridge are a few examples.

Although Grande-Digue may have been no more than a pawn in the lengthy struggle between France and England for the lands of Acadia and New France, it still possesses its own rich history. Those interested in reading more should consult Grande-Digue; Monographie historique d'une paroisse acadienne, a French language textbook by Paul-Pierre Bourgeois.

An active historical society, La Société Historique de Grande-Digue also regularly publishes a collection of historical essays called Brins d'histoire. The historical society is also responsible for the local museum which is housed in a replica of the first local chapel.