Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, are venturing into the entertainment industry with the establishment of 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 ended 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. Several projects are already in the works, including “Closer by the Sea,” a TV adaptation of Perry Chafe’s popular novel set in Newfoundland, and an adaptation of Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel, “Detective Aunty,” for television.
Trudeau and Telford aim to curate a diverse lineup of storytelling that resonates with audiences both in Canada and internationally, fostering empathy and understanding. They believe in the transformative power of storytelling to unite people in a world that can sometimes feel divided.
Following his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau, 54, has been actively engaging in public speaking engagements globally, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, accompanied by his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry. The couple began their relationship after Trudeau stepped down from office.
Trudeau’s foray into the entertainment realm mirrors that of former U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, who launched Higher Ground production company in 2018. Similarly, in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, unveiled Archewell Productions after stepping back from their royal duties.