What do you think?
Rate this book
Madam of the Maritimes: The Life and Times of Ada McCallum
Here is the fascinating true story of how a poor girl from the Prairies rose above poverty and hardship to become the best known, and seemingly untouchable, madam in this country. Everyone from housewives to politicians knew her simply as Ada – the renowned madam of Canada’s most notorious brothel at 51 Hollis Street in Halifax.
For more than four decades, Ada Jane McCallum and the women known as her girls offered sex for sale to the local gentry and to thousands of sailors, soldiers, and merchant seamen from around the world as they passed through the port city.
Although she operated an illicit business, Ada was respected and earned a reputation as one who protected and treated her employees well, dealt with her clients with discretion and respect, and cultivated a remarkably tolerant relationship with the powers that be.
Madam of the Maritimes looks into McCallum’s entry into the bustling brothel business during the war years, her three short-lived marriages, and her challenges with the law and Revenue Canada. It provides a look at Ada as seen through the eyes of some who knew her – a prostitute who worked for her for five years, her Halifax hairdresser in the 1950s, a retired judge who sentenced her in his court, an adoring niece, a curious young reporter and an anonymous client. As Ada’s friend and Halifax journalist the late Doug Harkness once said, “She was part of our cultural life.”
This story is not about the legality or morality of prostitution. Instead, it is about a respected and generous woman of class and dignity who made a name for herself in the world’s oldest profession.
For more than four decades, Ada Jane McCallum and the women known as her girls offered sex for sale to the local gentry and to thousands of sailors, soldiers, and merchant seamen from around the world as they passed through the port city.
Although she operated an illicit business, Ada was respected and earned a reputation as one who protected and treated her employees well, dealt with her clients with discretion and respect, and cultivated a remarkably tolerant relationship with the powers that be.
Madam of the Maritimes looks into McCallum’s entry into the bustling brothel business during the war years, her three short-lived marriages, and her challenges with the law and Revenue Canada. It provides a look at Ada as seen through the eyes of some who knew her – a prostitute who worked for her for five years, her Halifax hairdresser in the 1950s, a retired judge who sentenced her in his court, an adoring niece, a curious young reporter and an anonymous client. As Ada’s friend and Halifax journalist the late Doug Harkness once said, “She was part of our cultural life.”
This story is not about the legality or morality of prostitution. Instead, it is about a respected and generous woman of class and dignity who made a name for herself in the world’s oldest profession.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2021
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 1, 2022
Growing up and living in Nova Scotia, I’ve heard about Ada and Hollis Street in Halifax. I’d never been quite sure if those stories had been truth or just rumours. This book clears that up: Ada was real!
This is a short read by the author who began his career as a broadcast journalist in 1966. He said he knew precious little about prostitution.
I did find it interesting that in 1972 he was a young reporter at CJCH radio in Halifax when he’d been assigned to do a live studio interview with Xavier Hollander, better known as The Happy Hooker.
For those who don’t know about her, she was a Dutch prostitute who spoke and wrote about her life. Her book was an international bestseller, and she’d come to Halifax to promote the book and to appear at a sold-out service club fundraiser at the old Dartmouth Arena.
As a teen, I read her book.
Ada, of course didn’t write a book about her life, so the author relies on court records, and memories of those who knew her, etc.
The book outlines Ada as a runaway at the age of 14, landing a job in Winnipeg as a nanny. At the age of 16 she left that job and entered the world to prostitution in Winnipeg
Apparently, there is a documentary film Madam Ada: more class than flash
In this book she is described as a very interesting woman who always paid her bills on time, and that her operation was well organized, sophisticated, and nonviolent.
These similar comments get a bit repetitive.
She never hired local girls. Instead, she brought them in from Montréal and Toronto. Someone said she didn’t want girls that didn’t have a pimp because when you have a pimp you have someone else to answer to.
Ada died in 1986. She had an adopted son, Gary McCallum, who unfortunately died in late fall 2020, and couldn’t be interviewed for this book.
This is a short read by the author who began his career as a broadcast journalist in 1966. He said he knew precious little about prostitution.
I did find it interesting that in 1972 he was a young reporter at CJCH radio in Halifax when he’d been assigned to do a live studio interview with Xavier Hollander, better known as The Happy Hooker.
For those who don’t know about her, she was a Dutch prostitute who spoke and wrote about her life. Her book was an international bestseller, and she’d come to Halifax to promote the book and to appear at a sold-out service club fundraiser at the old Dartmouth Arena.
As a teen, I read her book.
Ada, of course didn’t write a book about her life, so the author relies on court records, and memories of those who knew her, etc.
The book outlines Ada as a runaway at the age of 14, landing a job in Winnipeg as a nanny. At the age of 16 she left that job and entered the world to prostitution in Winnipeg
Apparently, there is a documentary film Madam Ada: more class than flash
In this book she is described as a very interesting woman who always paid her bills on time, and that her operation was well organized, sophisticated, and nonviolent.
These similar comments get a bit repetitive.
She never hired local girls. Instead, she brought them in from Montréal and Toronto. Someone said she didn’t want girls that didn’t have a pimp because when you have a pimp you have someone else to answer to.
Ada died in 1986. She had an adopted son, Gary McCallum, who unfortunately died in late fall 2020, and couldn’t be interviewed for this book.
January 9, 2023
I read this book in a day so that is perhaps why I found it a bit repetitive. The story was interesting but felt very much like a newspaper article rather than a novel. I would have found it interesting to read some of the interviews of people who knew Ada.
June 22, 2025
I enjoyed the book but did not feel I really got to know Ada. More than cards and Royal Dalton figurines there wasn’t much about her as a person.
I really enjoyed the piece from the former sex worker employed by Ada. I think that really highlights the fact that although many saw her to be doing what was right although illicit, those who worked closest to her still felt taken advantage of. I would have enjoyed more from this angle!
I really enjoyed the piece from the former sex worker employed by Ada. I think that really highlights the fact that although many saw her to be doing what was right although illicit, those who worked closest to her still felt taken advantage of. I would have enjoyed more from this angle!
September 3, 2022
Dull novella length gossip column about a hali-famous female pimp. Unverified and lacking many details but has some of her financial info.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews