Aedon Janes: Building Community Connections

Degree, career, and marriage – Aedon Janes credits Northwestern Polytechnic as the starting point for each of these milestones. A graduate of NWP’s Bachelor of Commerce/Management, University Transfer program, Aedon began his studies here before completing his BCom in accounting at the University of Alberta.

NWP was Aedon’s first choice for post-secondary education. 

“I’m proud that our city has a local education hub, and I liked being able to stay in my community,” he notes. 

Aedon appreciates NWP’s smaller class sizes and being able to select a major in his second year. As for choosing a business degree, Aedon is fascinated by personal finance and investing.

“I’ve always been drawn to math and entrepreneurship,” he explains. Aedon saw that accounting offered a way to help people understand their businesses and build plans for the future. “I like the idea of taking things that aren’t easy to understand and organizing them into a financial picture to make them clearer.”

During his two years on campus, Aedon participated in the Alberta Deans of Business Case Competition. He was excited for the challenge it presented, especially when invited to take part as a first-year student. “It was an opportunity to jump in, learn skills quickly and contribute collaboratively,” he remembers. “And I made really good connections.”

One pivotal connection was with team mentors from Fletcher Mudryk LLP who came in to act as coaches. Aedon was grateful for their guidance, and for a new link with the firm. He first connected with Fletcher Mudryk as a high school student considering a career in accounting; one of the company’s partners graciously invited him to visit their offices. “The fact that they met with me while I was in high school -- it was pretty great,” says Aedon.

Those friendly connections paid off. Today, Aedon is employed as an accountant with Fletcher Mudryk. In one of life’s full-circle moments, he returned to NWP this year to coach the business case competition, mentoring a student team that earned first place in the 2026 competition.

“I like coming in to be on the other side of it,” Aedon smiles. “I appreciated seeing my skills from NWP applied at my job and as a coach.”

Throughout his education, Aedon knew that he wanted to stay local. “I wanted a profession in my hometown and to give back to my community,” he explains. Aedon was also the recipient of a First Nations, Métis and Inuit bursary from the Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC), which requires a commitment to working in northern Alberta – a nice alignment with Aedon’s priorities.

Aedon’s interest in learning more about his Indigenous heritage led to another community connection. During high school, he volunteered with the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre. A board position there led to a role with the Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association, and then a place on the youth executive of the National Association of Friendship Centres.

“I learned more about my roots and a lot about governance, budgeting and finance,” Aedon says of his time at the local centre. “They’re a really great group. I gained more than I gave.”

And what about that third milestone that originated at NWP? Aedon celebrated his marriage to a fellow NWP alumni in late June. He met his wife, now a registered nurse, on campus and says their relationship grew while hanging with friends at Howlers Lounge. “NWP played a pivotal role,” he smiles.

Aedon remains focused on building a life and career that support his community and is grateful for the role NWP played in making that come true.

“It’s been the perfect transition from studying at a place I love to joining a great workplace.”