Hayden hoping to make a difference

CB East – Bell Island Liberal candidate says people are right to feel frustrated

By Chris Lewis | Vol. 32 No. 8 (May 8 2019)

Cyril Hayden has spent a bit of time around politics and politicians over the years, thanks to his many roles as a volunteer in education and other fields. But this election marks the first time he has ever put his name on the ballot, in this case as the Liberal candidate in Conception Bay East – Bell Island district.

Hayden and his wife Marion have been residents of the Conception Bay East district for 14 years. The peaceful, rural setting is what originally attracted them to the region, he said, and convinced them to stay.

It’s been his base for some of his volunteer work, including as the chairman, for the past two decades, of the provincial school lunch program. It provides some 6,000 meals a day to children across the province, and this year alone, the charity will purchase nearly $1.6-million worth of food.

“I took the organization over 20 years ago, when it was in deep, financial trouble,” said Hayden. “Then, it was in only six schools, but today, we’re in 34 schools, and I will not be stopping until it’s province-wide, in all schools. I really believe in education, and I’m very passionate about it. I think the greatest asset that we have in Newfoundland now is our kids.”

It’s the leadership skills that Hayden has displayed in that endeavour that he hopes to bring to the role of MHA, if elected.

Meanwhile, his sights are not restricted to the children of the province. Hayden is also the chairman of the St. John’s Retired Citizens Association.
By introducing new programs to the association, Hayden said he has managed to help boost the membership numbers from approximately 140 to over 250, and has ensured the association stays in a solid financial situation.

His involvement with the group goes beyond sitting on the board of directors, though. Hayden also likes to take his harmonica and guitar as he tags along with a group of fellow musicians to make weekly visits to local seniors homes.

“Why am I running in the election? Well, I’ve been on the outside for years. I’ve been frustrated sometimes, unable to get the message across to governments, and by God, I realized I needed to get on the inside to get my message across,” Hayden said. “I’ve been very, very frustrated over the years. One example being with Paul Davis, who wouldn’t even meet with me when he was Premier. He wouldn’t even meet with me, a volunteer, to discuss the school lunch program. Steve Kent was Minister of Health at the time, and he wouldn’t meet with me, either. So, I’m very annoyed with that type of attitude.”

Hayden did run in his town’s municipal election in 2017, missing out on a seat by 10 votes.

“There’s only three kinds of people in the world – those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened,” said Hayden. “I’m the type to make things happen.”

If he is elected on May 16, Hayden said, he will be certain to act as a voice for the residents of Conception Bay East – Bell Island. He allowed that the constituents are frustrated with the way things are going, and if he can act as some sort of remedy for that unrest, then he is more than happy to take that on.

“A lot of the people I’ve heard form have been so disappointed with the Muskrat Falls issue, and the fiasco that we’re in there,” said Hayden. “They express so much frustration with where the province is, and they themselves can’t do much about it. They’re very concerned about the debt the province is in, and how we’re going to dig ourselves out of that… People can expect a voice from me, because I don’t give up. I feel I can make a difference. I really feel like I can do that.”

this year alone, the charity will purchase nearly $1.6-million worth of food.
“I took the organization over 20 years ago, when it was in deep, financial trouble,” said Hayden. “Then, it was in only six schools, but today, we’re in 34 schools, and I will not be stopping until it’s province-wide, in all schools. I really believe in education, and I’m very passionate about it. I think the greatest asset that we have in Newfoundland now is our kids.”

It’s the leadership skills that Hayden has displayed in that endeavour that he hopes to bring to the role of MHA, if elected.

Meanwhile, his sights are not restricted to the children of the province. Hayden is also the chairman of the St. John’s Retired Citizens Association.
By introducing new programs to the association, Hayden said he has managed to help boost the membership numbers from approximately 140 to over 250, and has ensured the association stays in a solid financial situation.

His involvement with the group goes beyond sitting on the board of directors, though. Hayden also likes to take his harmonica and guitar as he tags along with a group of fellow musicians to make weekly visits to local seniors homes.

“Why am I running in the election? Well, I’ve been on the outside for years. I’ve been frustrated sometimes, unable to get the message across to governments, and by God, I realized I needed to get on the inside to get my message across,” Hayden said. “I’ve been very, very frustrated over the years. One example being with Paul Davis, who wouldn’t even meet with me when he was Premier. He wouldn’t even meet with me, a volunteer, to discuss the school lunch program. Steve Kent was Minister of Health at the time, and he wouldn’t meet with me, either. So, I’m very annoyed with that type of attitude.”

Hayden did run in his town’s municipal election in 2017, missing out on a seat by 10 votes.

“There’s only three kinds of people in the world – those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened,” said Hayden. “I’m the type to make things happen.”

If he is elected on May 16, Hayden said, he will be certain to act as a voice for the residents of Conception Bay East – Bell Island. He allowed that the constituents are frustrated with the way things are going, and if he can act as some sort of remedy for that unrest, then he is more than happy to take that on.

“A lot of the people I’ve heard form have been so disappointed with the Muskrat Falls issue, and the fiasco that we’re in there,” said Hayden. “They express so much frustration with where the province is, and they themselves can’t do much about it. They’re very concerned about the debt the province is in, and how we’re going to dig ourselves out of that… People can expect a voice from me, because I don’t give up. I feel I can make a difference. I really feel like I can do that.”