Canadian icon Terry Fox should be honoured by renaming Vancouver International Airport after him, according to an online petition. (CBC)

There is a growing push online and in federal political circles to rename Vancouver International Airport after Terry Fox.

A Facebook page followed by thousands has already been launched, and Vancouver curator and writer Elspeth Sage has started an internet petition to pressure officials for the name change.

"Wouldn't it be great to fly into Vancouver and have it be called Terry Fox International Airport," Sage said.

Vancouver Liberal MP Hedy Fry said Wednesday she thinks it's an excellent idea and said she's looking to present a motion in the House of Commons calling for the name change.

Sage said she was inspired after travelling in Europe and seeing how other countries honour their prominent citizens.

"An airport has a special status … because it has an international context," Sage said.

$500 million raised

Terry Fox helped raise more than $20 million for cancer research after attempting to run across Canada in 1980. He had to end his effort in Thunder Bay, Ont., after his cancer metastasized. He died in 1981 at age 22.

The annual run named after Fox has since raised more than $500 million for the cause.

Sage acknowledges she has gathered only a handful of signatures so far at terryfoxairport.com, but she's confident the idea will catch on.

A Facebook page not yet affiliated with Sage's effort has also been dedicated to the name change and has more than 4,000 followers.

The naming of airports is a federal responsibility in Canada.

With files from the CBC's Ben Hadaway