Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, have made a foray into the entertainment industry by establishing a new media and entertainment production company named Hope & Hard Work. The company’s name draws inspiration from 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 creating scripted and unscripted content, including documentaries, docuseries, television series, and feature films. The company has already initiated several projects, one of which is the development of “Closer by the Sea,” a television adaptation of Perry Chafe’s acclaimed coming-of-age novel set in Newfoundland. Additionally, they are working on adapting Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel, “Detective Aunty,” for television, with Trudeau and Telford serving as executive producers.
Trudeau and Telford emphasize that their production lineup is diverse and thoughtfully curated to offer audience-driven storytelling that resonates with viewers in Canada and globally. They expressed their belief in the unifying power of compelling narratives to bridge divides and foster empathy and understanding.
Following his resignation from politics in January 2025, Trudeau, aged 54, has been actively engaging in public appearances and speeches worldwide, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he was accompanied by his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry. Their relationship began after his departure from political office.
Trudeau’s move into the entertainment sector mirrors similar endeavors by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who established the production company Higher Ground in 2018. In a similar vein, in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, launched Archewell Productions after stepping back from their royal duties.