Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, are launching a multidisciplinary media and entertainment enterprise called Hope & Hard Work. The venture, which debuts at the Toronto Film Festival, will develop scripted and unscripted content across film, television, audio, and live experiences.
The Origins and Name of Hope & Hard Work
According to news releases, the company’s name directly references a slogan used by Trudeau and the Liberal Party during his nine-year tenure as prime minister, which ended in 2025. Trudeau, 54, stepped back from politics and has since spoken globally, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he appeared alongside pop star Katy Perry. Hope & Hard Work is represented by 3 Arts.
Did you know? Justin Trudeau’s new production banner follows similar entertainment ventures by other prominent political figures, such as former U.S. president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama’s company Higher Ground, launched in 2018, and Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Productions, launched in 2020 after they stepped back from their royal roles.
Scripted Series and Literary Adaptations in Development
Hope & Hard Work has unveiled a robust initial slate of projects:
- Closer by the Sea: A television series adaptation of Perry Chafe’s best-selling coming-of-age debut novel. Chafe, known for creating CBC’s Republic of Doyle and Son of a Critch, sets the story against a small island community adapting to an ever-changing landscape.
- Detective Aunty: A cozy mystery series based on Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s novel. The project is produced by Neshama Entertainment and Todd Berger, with Trudeau and Telford serving as executive producers.
- Le Collège: An original series written by Jessie Gabe and Shebli Zarghami that follows two codependent best friends at Montreal’s most prestigious private high school.
- Power Moves: A series created by Leesa Ronald about a political adviser and a persistent journalist in the high-stakes world of politics and media.
- Backchannels: A fast-paced scripted series in development with Chloe Saintilan, based on the book The Right Hand: Conversations with the Chiefs of Staff to the World’s Most Powerful People by Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks.
Unscripted Strategy and Strategic Partnerships
Hope & Hard Work maintains a strategic partnership with Earth Tones, a media company run by Aliya Jasmine and Aliza Sovani. Earth Tones will lead the unscripted division and produce documentaries and docuseries.
“At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, we believe in the power of great storytelling to bring people closer,” Trudeau and Telford said in a joint statement. “As a Canadian company, we have an opportunity to bring values including kindness, optimism, openness and a belief in one another to everything we make, wherever the story comes from and wherever it ultimately finds its audience.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hope & Hard Work?
Hope & Hard Work is a media and entertainment production company founded by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his former chief of staff, Katie Telford.
When and where is the company launching?
The company officially launches at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.
What projects are currently in development?
The initial slate includes adaptations of Perry Chafe’s Closer by the Sea and Uzma Jalaluddin’s Detective Aunty, alongside original series such as Le Collège, Power Moves, and Backchannels.
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