Brig Bay is a small traditional fishing community with an interesting history. It also has a historical French cemetery as a result of early settlers. The community is named after the French fishing ships that used Brig Bay as a port during the time of the French Shore. These square ships had two masts and were commonly known as "brigs" thus the name "Brig Bay".

The first settler of Brig Bay was a French man named Louis Garreau. Louis was born in St. Malo, France and later lived in Newfoundland for 49 years. Louis Garreau died March 12, 1905 at the age of 72; his headstone can be seen in the cemetery in Brig Bay.

Brig Bay is located on the coastline and affords visitors scenic views of a traditional Newfoundland outport community.

Community and business services for Brig Bay residents include a K-12 school, Viking Trail Academy (located 6 kms in Plum Point). Health care is provided in Port Saunders at the Rufus Guinchard Health Centre, 110 kms south or Straits of Belle Isle Clinic Flowers Cove Clinic 40 kms north. Regional fire service is based in Bird Cove. Additional community, recreational and business services are found in the communities in the Plum Point/St. Barbe area and south (110 kms) in Hawkes Bay, Port au Choix & Port Saunders.

In addition, tourist can visit aboriginal archeological sites in nearby Bird Cove. There are also hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife and birds throughout the region.