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 derived from a slogan used by Trudeau and the Liberal Party during his nine-year term as prime minister, which concluded in 2025.
Hope & Hard Work will focus on producing a variety of content, including documentaries, docuseries, television series, and feature films. The company has already initiated several projects, with one of them being “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, where Trudeau and Telford will serve as executive producers.
Trudeau and Telford emphasize that their lineup is diverse and thoughtfully selected to provide audience-driven storytelling that resonates both locally and internationally. They aim to create a platform for stories that foster empathy and understanding, transcending personal beliefs and offering diverse perspectives.
Following his resignation from politics in January 2025, Trudeau, aged 54, has been engaging in public appearances, including delivering speeches at events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Notably, he has been accompanied by his partner, pop star Katy Perry, whom he began dating post-resignation.
Trudeau’s foray into the entertainment sector mirrors similar moves by other prominent figures like former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who founded the production company Higher Ground in 2018. In a similar vein, in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, launched their own production company, Archewell Productions, after stepping back from their royal duties.
