He’s got one of the most recognizable faces and voices in Hamilton – make that a large area of southern Ontario. A graduate of Mohawk’s Television Broadcasting program, Matt Hayes is the immensely popular morning show co-host on 102.9 K-Lite FM radio and familiar personality at CH television, where he has handled an assortment of duties over the years, including his current weather reports on the noon and evening newscasts. In early September, he and Connie Smith began a noon-hour lifestyles show, aptly named Smith and Hayes, with feature segments on health and fitness, home décor and celebrity guests. 

It’s been a successful career which has now spanned 25 years. On top of his radio and television work, Hayes has dabbled in theatre, written newspaper columns and lent his time to many charities. He’s sung the national anthem for the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, and the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs and last year, had the honour of hosting a special about the television station, a one-hour documentary titled The First 50 Years: A Half Century of CH. 

A regular weekday finds Hayes up by 4:30 a.m. preparing for his radio morning show at K-Lite FM with Sunni Genesco, a duo that has been together for 11 years. If playing on words, Genesco and Hayes could be taken as the name of a wisecracking intro to a weather skit, but the pair has been the top-rated morning show in the region for many years. They also make regular appearances on “CH Morning Live” with a remote camera set up in their studio at the station. 

A predominant feature that quickly stands out when speaking with the affable Hayes is that he’s every bit as cordial, enthusiastic and friendly off-air as when he’s behind the microphone and in front of the camera. His positive demeanour and insightful personality seem to naturally transfer into his broadcasting style, which has gained him many loyal followers over the years, as evidenced by his selection as favourite television and radio personality in the Hamilton Spectator's annual Reader's Choice Poll on numerous occasions. 

Selecting a Career 

Born and raised in Hamilton, the 47-year-old Hayes graduated from Ancaster High School before enrolling in the Television Broadcasting program at Mohawk in September 1977.  

“At first I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” admits Hayes, when asked of his plans following the conclusion of high school. “My dad was in radio for a number of years in Hamilton, so I got to soak up the atmosphere at a young age. I really quite enjoyed it. Mike, my older brother, went into the television program before I did and that made me think about it more.” His brother is a freelance cameraman, having worked with the likes of CTV and TSN. To further emphasize how broadcasting runs in the family, his sister, Maria Hayes, also works at CH television as health reporter and anchors the weekend news. 

“I had no real aspirations to be in front of the camera,” he candidly admits. “I wanted to be a cameraman. But during the course of time, people asked me to host their on-camera school assignments and I came to realize how much I enjoyed it.” 

During his days at Mohawk, Hayes lived at home with his parents. “I was fortunate enough to get a summer job at Dofasco so I made enough money that I didn’t have to work during the school year,” he states. “I drove to school in my 1964 Ford Galaxy 500, which I inherited from my brother.”  

Hayes recalls how he and his fellow students spent countless hours at Mohawk. “We lived in the studio,” he remembers. “We were there in the evenings and weekends working on shows.” As for keeping in touch with old schoolmates, that aspect has proven relatively easy with a large number of Mohawk grads employed at CH.  

One fellow student named Mark Stokl wound up becoming best friends with Hayes, with Stokl acting as best man at his wedding. “He’s now in Torino, Italy, and is vice president of engineering for the company that is coordinating all the international media for the Olympics,” notes Hayes. “This past June we went over to visit for two weeks which was great.”  

“I’ve been back to do News at Noon segments at Mohawk and was once a part-time instructor, helping kids produce the daily newscast,” says Hayes. “Some of the instructors are former CH employees and I know they are very talented and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend the broadcasting course to anyone thinking about getting into this line of work.”  

Often there is one instructor who is credited with helping a student achieve a greater degree of success during their time in school. For Hayes, it was Steve Dunn, who at the time was chair of the Mohawk program. “He saw some potential in me,” states Hayes. “I screwed up on some of my credits and so I was not going to be able to graduate. He worked out a way where I would come back the following year to do post graduate work in the journalism program.” Taking those extra courses in that fourth year gave Hayes the credits he required for graduation. “If it wasn’t for him, I would not be in the situation of being able to pick up an alumni award,” continues Hayes, referring to an honour he will be receiving from the school at a special gala dinner in January. 

While the veteran broadcaster has great memories of his days at Mohawk, he harbours slightly less enthusiasm for his high school experience. In fact, he recalls a humorous incident which happened years later, when he was walking downtown one day and ran into a girl he knew from high school. “She was so amazed that I was on the television news,” muses Hayes. “She figured I was one of those guys who would never amount to much.” 

The Real World of Broadcasting 

Following graduation from Mohawk, Hayes landed a job with CHEX television in Peterborough in June, 1981. Six months later he joined the CH team as a news reporter and remained in that role for three years, before switching to weather. 

In his younger days, Hayes admits there were times when he was tempted by offers to move to a larger U.S. market, a route other successful Canadian broadcaster have taken. He was once approached by a headhunter from New York, but after giving it some thought, chose to remain in southern Ontario.  

“I did mull it over, but Hamilton is my home where my family and friends are located,” says Hayes. “I have always been happy and content where I am. If I had ever been frustrated or bored maybe I would have felt different. I was also single back then.”  

A lifelong Hamiltonian, Hayes has a wife Patti and daughter Kyra, who is 17 and in her final year of high school. Like her father, she, too, is an excellent writer and is interested in eventually becoming an English teacher.  

What would Hayes be doing now had he not travelled down the broadcasting path? “I’ve often thought about that and I don’t have any idea,” he says, laughing, “I’m not handy with my hands so it definitely would not have been any type of construction, so I really don’t know. I always enjoyed writing, so I am certain I’m where I was meant to be.” 

Leisure Activities 

When he has a bit of time to himself, Hayes loves listening to his music collection. “I have about 3,000 CDs in the basement,” he reveals. “I like to go the music stores on the weekend as well as buying some English magazines, which I often get online.” 

He has teamed up with singer Jim Witter to perform under the name The Weather Boys. Proceeds from their recordings have gone to the Jimmy Lomax Operation Santa Claus Fund. Hayes has also appeared in a number of theatre productions. In 2003, he shared Best Actor accolades with his father, Chuck Hayes, for their performances in Over the River and Through the Woods.  

Giving back to the community is extremely important to Hayes. He spends many hours volunteering, having served as Honourary Chairman for the Super Cities Walk for Multiple Sclerosis, and the Ontario Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He participates in the annual telethon in support of McMaster Children's Hospital and is heavily involved with the SPCA, including the Wiggle Waggle Walk-A-Thon.  

Admittedly not athletically inclined, Hayes says that aspect has always been something that pleases his wife. However, he and his father are huge Hamilton Tiger-Cat fans, to which they have season tickets. So don’t be overly surprised if you see him before a game, singing the national anthem. 

By: Angus Gillespie

This story was originally published in Fall 2005 in the Mohawk Alumni In Touch magazine.