Reflecting on the legacy Ted Szilva helped create for Sudbury

Morning North6:50Remembering Ted Szilva - the man behind Sudbury's Big Nickel

Ted Szilva is the man who came up with the idea of the Big Nickel. He's also the man who made it happen. Ted passed away earlier this week at the age of 81. The CBC's Marina von Stackelberg spoke with his son Jim at the site of the Big Nickel.

Family and friends are remembering the man whose persistence led to the creation of one of Sudbury's most iconic landmarks.

TedSzilvadied Wednesday night at the age of 81.

A Canadian flag flies at half-mast next to the giant, gleaming replica of a five cent coin, known as "The Big Nickel."

• The untold story of Sudbury's Big Nickel
• From the CBC Archives:Sudbury's Big Nickel

"I think it will be around forever," said Ted Szilva's son, Jim.

"And I will forever be proud of what he was able to create."

Ted Szilva was only 27 when he first came up with the idea to build the landmark.

But the city didn't want it.

So, he built it four feet outside of city limits.

'Entrepreneurial spirit'

"Big ideas always have resistance," said Julie Moskalyk, a senior manager with the earth sciences attraction Dynamic Earth, where the nickel now sits.

"But when you have a visionary and a leader, they just bring it to fruition. And that's what Ted was with the Big Nickel."

In the last two years, Szilva was there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Big Nickel, and even co-wrote a book about it with his son Jim.

"He really knew what he wanted to do. And he knew the success he would have," she said.

"He was the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit that we see in sudbury."

Moskalyk said Szilva often made visits to the Big Nickel to share facts with tourists.

"He was such a lovely man. He was this tall, handsome, articulate, knowledgeable man that gave all his time and efforts."

Hundred of thousands of visitors have come to see the larger-than-life attraction.

The Big Nickel is considered one of Canada's top 10 roadside attractions.

"When the sun is setting or rising, the big nickel gleams in the distance. So people see it right off the highway," Moskalyk said.

Community support

Szilva's son Jim told CBC News that support from thcommunity has been non-stop since hearing about his death

"Neighbours are still coming over with a lasagna," he said.

"What a great community we live in. He was so proud to be a part of it. And we'll never forget him."

Szilva said his dad was was an amazing father, husband and grandfather

"He loved Sudbury. He was passionate about the people here and the lifestyle that we've created for ourselves," he continued.

"He was smart, tenacious. Thankfully there were enough people that believed in the idea [of the Big Nickel] and believed in him."

Szilva said he likes to think of the landmark as "a symbol of Sudbury. Of who we are," not just a tourist attraction, but "our roots and where we came from. And knowing as a community that's why we're here and why we're still here."

Obituary for Theodore Szilva