Yellowknife (Apr 16/03) - Even in this digital age identity is dictated by what is on the plastic and paper you carry around in a wallet or purse.

As a young, trusting and naive 19-year-old I visited a bar in my hometown and left my jacket, with my wallet in a coat pocket, draped over a chair. I was driving, and so not drinking, and had no reason to reach for it over the course of the evening. Sadly, somebody else reached for it instead.

Being a broke university student I probably carried only a few small bills but going through the hoops and cost of replacing all of my identification was hassle enough to make this a memorable event.

Thankfully, I kept my birth certificate in a safe place at home, and was able to use it to get my driver's licence.

Sgt. Al McCambridge said the first step for people who have lost their wallet is to cancel credit cards right away, then contact the police.

"Some wallets are recovered, unfortunately not all of them are," he said.

McCambridge said it's also the onus of the wallet owner to contact all the issuing agencies to say that their identity cards are missing.

Once you cancel your credit cards, the next step is getting a replacement driver's licence or general identification card.

"It's a sticky issue," said Christina Larkin, who works for the NWT driver's licence office.

"Without I.D. it's very, very hard to get I.D."

Larkin said the office will only issue a replacement card to people who can provide two other pieces of identification.

Vital statistics will also issue a signed form stating that you are on their records, but Larkin said you still have to prove that you are that person.

As a last resort people can have a public figure vouch for them.

"That's not always accepted, that is a last resort," she said. "There has to be some supporting documents other than a person stating, you know, this is that person."

Larkin said she's never encountered somebody who was starting from absolute scratch. A photocopy of identification can help prove who you are, although the office will only accept original birth certificates.