Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, have entered the entertainment industry by establishing a new media and entertainment production company named Hope & Hard Work. The company’s name is inspired by a slogan used during Trudeau’s tenure as prime minister.
Hope & Hard Work will focus on producing a variety of content, including documentaries, docuseries, television series, and feature films, with multiple projects already in progress. One of the upcoming projects is “Closer by the Sea,” a television adaptation of Perry Chafe’s popular novel set in Newfoundland, known for creating shows like “Republic of Doyle” and “Son of a Critch.”
Additionally, the company is adapting Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel, “Detective Aunty,” for television, with Trudeau and Telford as executive producers. Trudeau and Telford aim to offer a diverse lineup of audience-driven stories that resonate both nationally and internationally.
Trudeau, who resigned in January 2025, has been actively engaging in public speaking engagements worldwide, including at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, accompanied by his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry. This move into the entertainment industry mirrors the actions of former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who launched Higher Ground production company in 2018, and Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, who founded Archewell Productions in 2020 after stepping back from royal duties.
