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 by Trudeau and the Liberal Party during his nine-year tenure as prime minister, which concluded in 2025.

Hope & Hard Work will focus on producing a variety of content, including scripted and unscripted projects like documentaries, docuseries, television series, and feature films. The company has already begun working on several projects, with one of them being the TV adaptation of Perry Chafe’s popular novel, “Closer by the Sea,” 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 emphasized that the company’s lineup is diverse and meticulously selected to provide audience-driven storytelling that resonates both domestically and internationally. They stated that they believe in the unifying power of compelling narratives to bring people together and foster empathy and understanding among viewers.

Following his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau, aged 54, has been actively engaging in public appearances, including delivering speeches globally, such as at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Notably, he is romantically involved with pop star Katy Perry, whom he began dating post his political resignation.

Trudeau’s foray into the entertainment sector mirrors that of former U.S. President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who established the production company Higher Ground in 2018. Similarly, in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, launched their production company, Archewell Productions, after stepping back from their royal duties.