Start with the clear width, not the rough opening. A door can look wide and still lose an inch or two once you account for the door slab and stops, so you want a clear passage of at least 32 inches for most wheelchairs and walkers. A good contractor measures the actual clearance and asks what device your parent uses, because a wider power chair needs more room than a folding rollator.
Victoria's older homes matter here. Character houses in Fairfield, Rockland, and James Bay often have plaster walls, tight hallways, and framing that hides plumbing or wiring, so before anyone cuts, the contractor should confirm whether the wall is load-bearing or holds utilities. Condos in Downtown and along the Gorge come with strata rules, and you'll usually need approval before altering a doorway. In our experience, the contractors who handle this well ask about these things on the first visit rather than the day the saw comes out.
Here's our honest take. If the doorway is only an inch or two short of what a walker needs, ask about offset (swing-clear) hinges first. They let the door open fully clear of the frame and gain you real width for a fraction of the cost of a full rebuild. The trade-off is they don't help much when you need several inches or the frame itself is the problem, and in a true load-bearing wall you're better off paying for proper structural work than trying to save money on a shortcut that fails inspection. When in doubt, go with the contractor who's done accessibility work for seniors, carries licensing and liability insurance, and stands behind the finish with a warranty. You'll pay a bit more than a general handyman, but the difference shows up in a door that closes cleanly and a wall that stays sound. Whatever you choose, get a written quote and a clear timeline, since Victoria's damp winters make it worth scheduling interior work before the wettest stretch.
