For any property owner, residential or commercial, nothing is more unsettling than hearing there is a crack, leak or problem with the foundation. When this happens, it is Shield Foundation Repair to the rescue, a company passionate about service and with one main goal – putting your mind at ease while taking care of the problem. One call to Shield means you can simply get on with your life, and that’s just the way they want it.
Shield Foundation Repair started as a collaboration among Todd Ivanochko, president and owner, Tammy Ivanochko, senior operations manager and Tim Willcox, senior field operations manager.
“Todd had been working in the industry for over a decade and that’s where he first crossed paths with Tim,” says Tammy. “Todd had already been thinking about going out on his own. He was frustrated by the limitations that other foundation repair companies placed on the kinds of projects they would take on. He had different ideas – new products, services and approaches he wanted to try. More than anything, he believed customers deserved better repairs, better service and better treatment. His vision was to raise the bar in an industry not known for its professionalism.”
The two men joined forces, and Tammy left her job with Edmonton Police Services to help the company get off the ground. She quickly became an integral part of the company and what was supposed to be a temporary career stop turned into a lasting senior operations position.
“Once we decided to bite the bullet, we hit the ground running,” says Tammy. “We officially incorporated at the end of February 2020 and opened our doors at the beginning of April… the very same week the city—and the world—shut down for COVID! It was a bit nerve wracking at first. The streets were empty, the phones were quiet and no one knew what to expect; and then—it rained and rained and rained.”
The rain, plus the sudden availability of homeowners to have time and money for renovations and repairs, caused the business to boom. What started with three people is now over 60 employees strong working full-time, year-round.
Shield Foundation’s success stems not just from timing or circumstance but from its unwavering mission, values, and passion for delivering exceptional services, which include all manner of foundation repair and waterproofing on existing residential and commercial structures.
“A lot of people assume our biggest market is residential crack repairs, but foundation repair is so much more,” says Todd. “We named our company as we did so people would have a reference point, but we do a lot of underpinning, jack and role, basement removal and replacement, interior support walls, retaining walls, sump pump, weeping tile installation, parkade repair and restoration and so much more! We are hired to do these types of projects because of our environmentally friendly waterproofing products and techniques that use flame retardant materials, so they won’t burn down buildings. We use quick-drying waterproofing products that have low VOCs and we use dust suppression for a better client/tenant experience.”
He continues, “At its core, Shield is a company that genuinely cares about the people who work for us, the customers and the broader community that we serve. Our mission is simple: to deliver a world-class customer experience by protecting what matters most. That means different things to different people – your family, your home, your belongings or your financial investment. Whatever it is, we take that responsibility seriously.”
Tim adds about how the team works together to deliver on the mission, “We’ve navigated through challenges from employee turnover, juggling personalities, etc. After all these years, Shield has grown to become a family. Our people are recommending Shield to other people as a place to come and work. It’s not a job, it’s Shield. That’s right from the heart.”
Todd notes, “What really helps us stand out is that our answer is always ‘yes.’ We take on projects that scare others. Shield goes in when it’s ugly and gross. We roll up our sleeves and dig in without complaints. When the going gets tough, call Shield! We don’t sacrifice our quality for profit.”
One of those tough jobs included moving a heritage home. (See the footage on Shield’s YouTube channel.)
Tim says, “We moved the University of Alberta heritage house and set it on a new foundation. The job was featured on the evening news. We had spectators and supporters walking with Shield through the four blocks of the move. There were a lot of moving parts with utility companies, tree cutters, City of Edmonton, the Edmonton Police Service, safety resources, labour, filming crews and more.”
Shield may make the news from time to time, and you’ll see even more of them in an upcoming reality television show (really!) however, a lot of their visibility outside of working hours is seen in the team’s commitment to community service.
“Shield provides heartfelt support to Zoey’s Animal Rescue Society, Santa’s Anonymous and Little Warriors. We’re proud to have a strong team of Ukrainian immigrants as part of Shield. From the beginning, we’ve made it a priority to not just provide jobs, but to truly welcome our people to Canada and support them in building a life here. We’ve partnered with a local immigration consultant to help them navigate the path to permanent residency. We’ve brought in English teachers to offer language lessons and even invited a local realtor to speak about first-time home buying.”
The growth, community service and innovation of the company have been recognized numerous times over from the prestigious BOMA Certification of Customer Service Award and a 2025 Consumer Choice Award for Waterproofing and Foundation Repair in Northern Alberta, to a Business in Edmonton Leaders award in 2024 and many more.
Collectively, the ownership team thanks BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada) for financing the venture when other banks were unwilling. They thank Anita, Colleen and Melanie, vital employees that have been with Shield since the early days. Tammy and Todd are grateful to their dog, Cooper, for helping them wind down at the end of busy days. Tim is also thankful for his furry family members Luna and Champ, along with his wife Janae and their children. All three are incredibly grateful for the consistent support of the Shield team and the ever-growing client list.
From an idea to provide outstanding service to help property owners during crisis to now, Shield has undergone incredible transformation.
Tammy says, “We all know anyone can start a business but to overcome the constant challenges and setbacks, persevere, then thrive…that takes courage, a solid team and a well thought out plan. We ensure relevancy in an industry that few know about or want to know about until they have a problem and need us. We had a rough start – launching during COVID, being told we would not succeed, lack of access to financing, etc. We used our own credit cards and worked incredibly long hours to get there. Where we are at in such a short period of time is extraordinary.”
Tim adds, “The sheer number of satisfied customers, the relief and happiness they feel after we’ve completed the work for them, especially after they came to us in tears because foundation issues are their worst nightmare – when you have people telling you how grateful they are and you look back and know we did that, Shield did that for them, it’s pretty cool!”
Todd concludes, “What comes next? Expansion and growth, if that means merging, acquiring; we don’t know what the future looks like, but we are focused on growth across Alberta – and beyond.”
8625 63 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6E 0E8
780-760-4900 • info@shieldfoundationrepair.ca
