Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, have entered 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 term as prime minister, concluding in 2025.
Hope & Hard Work is set to produce a variety of content including documentaries, docuseries, television series, and feature films, with multiple projects already in progress. One such project is the development of a TV adaptation of Perry Chafe’s popular novel, “Closer by the Sea,” set in Newfoundland. Additionally, they are working on bringing Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel, “Detective Aunty,” to television, where Trudeau and Telford will serve as executive producers.
Trudeau and Telford emphasized that their lineup encompasses diverse and thoughtfully selected storytelling to create a platform for engaging narratives that resonate locally and internationally. They expressed their belief in the unifying power of compelling storytelling in a world that can often feel divided.
Following his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau, now 54, has been actively engaged in public speaking engagements worldwide, including appearances at events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Notably, he has been accompanied by his partner, pop star Katy Perry, with whom he started a relationship post-resignation.
Trudeau’s foray into the entertainment sector mirrors the path taken by former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who established Higher Ground production company in 2018. Similarly, in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, ventured into production with the launch of their company, Archewell Productions, after stepping back from their royal duties.
