Roberta Bondar concerned with Ottawa band using her name

Canada's first female astronaut thinksthe public might assumeanOttawaband using her name is endorsed by her, according to a letter sent to the band by her legal team.

Dr. Roberta Bondarflew into space in 1992, making Canadian space flight history.

The Roberta Bondar band, meanwhile, makes "steamy noise rock" sounds (that's from their website) inOttawa.

On Wednesday, a member of the band announced to her bandmates and friends on Facebook that a cease and desist letter had arrived from the real Roberta Bondar.

Ottawans quickly chimed in with some other namesuggestions, including: Boberta Rondar, Bobby Rondar, The Artist Formerly Known as Roberta Bondar, and Roberta Buzzkill.

The letter from lawyerJonathan Colombo of the Toronto firmBereskin & Parr LLP says that while Bondar is "in one sense, flattered" by the choice of name,she's also "concerned that her name is being used without her consent and, more importantly, that Canadians who discover yourbrand will assume that yourband is connected with or endorsed by Dr. Bondar."

Case closed, with a happy ending

But don't worry, everyone, the case is closed. And it's even gota happy ending.

On CBC Radio's All in a Day Thursday afternoon, host Alan Neal asked band member Lidija Rozitis: "Are you willing to change the name?"

"Oh yeah, totally," she said.

Bondar's publicist,Christine Yankou who was also a guest on the show said Bondar would love to meet the band the next time they play in Toronto.

It's worth mentioning that Roberta Bondarisn't the only Ottawa band using a real person's name (or something a lot like it).

The electronic trioSilkken Laumannhas managedto get away with it by not spellingSilkenn Laumann the Canadian Olympic rower's name exactly right.

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