The name Old Fort is said to be derived from ruins of fortifications built in the vacinity by Augustin Legardeur, Le Sieur de Courtemanche, a french fur trader and former french military officer. Courtemanche traded with local Montagnais for fur while running a small seal fishery. The fort was said to have been distroyed by invading Inuit who clashed regularly with the colonising europeens along the coast over traditional hunting and fishing grounds.

Today, Old Fort Bay, one of the three villages in the municipality of Bonne-Esperance, is a tranquil community situated at the western end of a XX kilometre portion of the provincial 138 highway beginning at the Quebec-Labrador border near Blanc-Sablon. Local inhabitants rely on the fishing industry. Many skilled outdorsmen from this town are known to work as guides and cooks during the summer months in remote outfitting camps. Most of the remaining population still practice the transhumance ritual every summer by migrating to the islands of the Old Fort archipelago.

First settling to the area began with the Courtemanche outpost in 1702. After being distroyed during the confrontation with the Inuit and the French later moved to the Bradore Bay area. During the late 1800's, many families first came from the Gaspe peninsula and then from Newfoundland and settled here, such as the MacDonalds, Robins, Fequets, Haywards, Wellmans, Woodlands and Buckles. As early as 1825, Englishman John Goddard was said to have lived here but then moved to nearby Saint-Paul’s River.

It is said that French explorer Jacques Cartier landed at Port-Saint-Servan, just west of the present day Old Fort community at the mouth of the Old Fort River and planted a cross. This event was said to have taken place a full month before the now famous Gaspe landing.

Also, the location of the 16th century Breton fishing capital of Brest is believed to be at the Old Fort site as well.

Many artifacts such as weapons and bullets have been unearthed around the community and corroborate many of the speculations regarding the Courtemanche settlement and early Inuit and Montagnais confrontation.

The Dog Island Cultural Centre is situated on the island bearing the same name which emanates from a rock formation resembling a sleeping dog. Tours can be arranged during the summer months.

Spring: Hockey tournament, winter Carnival, Church sales and darts tournaments