Legendary Canadian Picker Wayne Learie Retires After 60 Years, Auctioning Historic Collection

Wayne Learie, known throughout Canada and internationally as The Mad Picker, is concluding his remarkable 60-year career with an unprecedented auction of his personal and store collection through DirectAuctions.Com. This event marks the retirement of one of Canada's most trusted names in collecting and antique dealing, signaling a significant transition in the North American collectibles market.

Learie's career spanned generations, during which he built large collections for investors and handled everything from Led Zeppelin's robe to rare gas pumps and vintage signs. His reputation for uncovering hidden gems in basements, backyard sheds, and estates made him a legendary figure among collectors and antique enthusiasts. The upcoming auction represents not just the dispersal of a collection but the culmination of a lifetime's work in preserving and celebrating historical artifacts.

The significance of this auction extends beyond the retirement of a single individual. It represents a major opportunity for collectors to acquire pieces that rarely enter the market. Among the standout items is a 1938 carving depicting Chief August Jack Khatsahlano of the Squamish Nation, a historically significant piece connected to Vancouver's early settlement history and featured in J.S Matthews' book Conversations with Khahtsahlano 1932-1952. This piece alone demonstrates the cultural importance of Learie's collection and the historical preservation role pickers play in the art and antique world.

The collection includes highly collectible early Canadian Addison radios from the 1950s, an original "Girl on the Beach" Coca-Cola sign in mint condition, a fully restored Austin children's pedal car, and signed Tiffany table lamps and candle holders. Additional treasures range from Hardy fishing reels and rods from the 1920s and '30s to rare Canadiana furniture, carved Chinese jade, fine jewelry, sterling silver, Indigenous art, military swords, badges, and restored Seeburg and Wurlitzer jukeboxes.

Jeff Schwarz, owner of DirectAuctions.Com and known as "The Liquidator" from television, emphasized the historical importance of this event. "We're thrilled to present such a unique collection that rarely, if ever, comes up for auction," Schwarz stated. The acquisition of The Mad Picker business and collaboration with Learie represents a strategic expansion into the estate and collectibles market for DirectAuctions.Com, potentially reshaping how high-value collectibles are brought to market in the digital age.

The two-day online auction, scheduled for October 28-29, 2025, will feature more than 2,000 rare and collectible pieces, with both Schwarz and Learie hosting the live-streamed event. This format allows worldwide participation, reflecting how the collectibles market has evolved to embrace digital platforms while maintaining the excitement of live auctions. The event is expected to be the most significant auction in the Fraser Valley in 25 years, offering collectors, dealers, and enthusiasts a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire pieces from one of Canada's most respected pickers.

Learie's retirement and the subsequent auction of his collection highlight the evolving nature of the collectibles industry, where experienced pickers with decades of knowledge are becoming increasingly rare. The transition of his business to DirectAuctions.Com demonstrates how traditional picking expertise is being integrated with modern auction technology, potentially setting a new standard for how valuable collections are brought to market in the digital era.