Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, have ventured into the entertainment industry by launching a new media and entertainment production company named Hope & Hard Work. The company’s name is inspired by a slogan used by Trudeau and the Liberal Party during his nine-year tenure as prime minister, which concluded in 2025.
Hope & Hard Work will focus on producing a variety of content, including scripted and unscripted projects such as documentaries, docuseries, television series, and feature films. The company has already begun work on several projects, including the development of “Closer by the Sea,” a television adaptation of Perry Chafe’s popular coming-of-age novel set in Newfoundland. Additionally, they are adapting Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel, “Detective Aunty,” for television, with Trudeau and Telford taking on roles as executive producers.
Trudeau and Telford have emphasized that their production lineup is diverse and thoughtfully curated with the aim of creating a platform for audience-driven storytelling that resonates both locally and internationally. They expressed their belief in the power of storytelling to bridge divides and foster empathy, aiming to connect with audiences in meaningful ways.
Following his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau, now 54, has been engaging in public speaking engagements worldwide, including appearances at events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he was accompanied by his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry. Trudeau’s foray into the entertainment sector mirrors similar moves by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who established Higher Ground production company in 2018, and by Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who launched Archewell Productions in 2020 after stepping back from their royal duties.