After auditioning hundreds of bidders looking to score big, OLN today announced cast and production details for the highly anticipated original reality series Storage Wars Canada. With principal filming on the 36-episode, half-hour series now underway in Ontario, the cast features a seasoned auctioneer and six determined professional bidders, each with the same amount of motivation, but all with their own unique strategy. Commissioned by OLN’s original programming team, produced by Proper Television, and licensed by FremantleMedia, Storage Wars Canada is slated to premiere on OLN this summer. Full broadcast details to be announced at a later date.
“OLN consistently delivers outrageous real life stories loaded with uncensored, unapologetic, and off-the-cuff characters,” said Claire Freeland, Director of Original Programming, Rogers Media. “In Storage Wars Canada, viewers can expect to see a group of fiercely competitive players with distinct personalities, ready to battle it out for the next locker.”
Storage Wars Canada is a modern-day treasure hunt, as professional bidders use their combined knowledge, expertise, and wit to bid on the contents of abandoned, repossessed, and forgotten storage containers. Second-generation auctioneer Don Reinhart is joined by six fierce bidders, including: Roy Dirnbeck – “The Instigator”; Cindy Hayden and Rick Coffill – “The Veterans”; Ursula Stolf – “The Knock Out”; and father-and-son duo Paul and Bogart Kenny – “High Roller and The Kid.”
“We were surprised at the number of high-calibre candidates who applied for Storage Wars Canada,” said Guy O’Sullivan, President, Proper Television. “From veterans to beginners, I honestly didn’t think we would have this many great contenders to choose from. The cast members really impressed us and we can’t wait to watch them go into battle and score big.”
Coming together with different levels of experience and knowledge, these buyers only have one thing in common: they will do anything to get what they want, and what they want is to find the next big deal. See below for full cast biographies.
Storage Wars Canada Cast
Don Reinhart – Auctioneer
Hometown: Caledon, ON
Auctioneering Experience: Setting up auctions for 48 years, Don has auctioned off everything from smashed up cars to houses.
Words to Live By: “If you don’t play the rules my way, you don’t play.”
Born into a family of auctioneers, Don is self-taught and has been conducting auctions since 1965. Crediting his success to strict work ethic and his broad range of knowledge, Don’s loyal following of bidders guarantees that wherever he goes, he always draws a crowd.
Roy Dirnbeck – “The Instigator”
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
Best Deal: He bought a locker for $3,200 that contained a $17,000 Rolex.
Words to Live By: “You know what, Canada? Start paying your bills or I’m gonna own your s%*t!”
Not looking to make new friends, Roy will risk everything to be the top bidder. Dirty tricks, intimidation, sheer determination, and the occasional disguise are all part of his strategy. As the owner of a successful courier company, Roy has deep pockets and is “not interested in dealing in the garbage.”
Ursula Stolf – “The Knock Out”
Hometown: Woodbridge, ON
Best Deal: She bought a pair of $1,500 Mui Mui boots for $65, and re-sold them for $600.
Words to Live By: “Don’t tell me I can’t, ’cause I can; and don’t tell me don’t, ’cause I will.”
With the success of her online business re-selling high-end clothing and accessories, Ursula sees great potential in the storage locker scene. Her late father introduced her to the idea of storage auctions when she was a child.
Cindy Hayden and Rick Coffill – “The Veterans”
Hometown: Newmarket, ON
Best Deal: They bought a $1,350 locker and found an antique diamond ring worth $50,000.
Words to Live By: “I’m usually a good girl, but if you cross that line at an auction, I’m coming after you.” – Cindy
These fierce competitors are veterans of the storage locker auction scene and are well-known for being aggressive bidders. On a mission to fill their store with whatever high-end antiques and collectables they come across, Cindy and Rick use a variety of unseemly tactics to scare off other bidders, and have no fear of fighting dirty.
Paul and Bogart Kenny – “High Roller and The Kid”
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Best Deal: They bought a set of china for $750 and re-sold it for $30,000.
Words to Live By: “My wife says ‘don’t be caustic, sarcastic, or demeaning to anybody today.’ Sometimes I make it through the day, sometimes I don’t.” – Paul
A born hustler, Paul made a living as a professional poker player for more than 30 years, and parlayed his winnings into a very successful side business of buying and selling collectibles. With Paul’s uncanny ability to “make a dollar out of 15 cents,” he knows the true re-sale value of most finds, and is now teaching his son, Bogart, the tricks of the trade. Bogart seems to be the only one not intimidated by Paul, and argues with him about everything.
Storage Wars Canada is an OLN original series produced by Proper Television and based on a format created by Original Productions, a FremantleMedia Company. Guy O’Sullivan (Come Dine with Me Canada) and Allison Grace (Tribute Bands) serve as executive producers, and Geoff Siskind (Canada’s Worst Driver) is the series producer. Claire Freeland is director of original programming for Rogers Media and an executive producer of Storage Wars Canada. Malcolm Dunlop is the executive vice-president of programming, Rogers Media. Scott Moore is the president of broadcast, Rogers Media.
