Justin Trudeau launches new film and TV production company

Former prime minister launching Hope & Hard Work with former chief of staff

Former prime minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff, Katie Telford, are swapping the political stage for the entertainment world with the launch of a new media and entertainment production company called Hope & Hard Work.

Trudeau didn't stray far from his political roots when it came to the company's name — it's taken from a slogan he and the Liberal Party used during his nine-year tenure as prime minister, which ended in 2025.

The company will produce scripted and unscripted content, including documentaries and docuseries, as well as television series and feature films, according to a news release — with several projects already underway.

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Among the projects already in development is Closer by the Sea, a TV adaptation of Perry Chafe's best-selling coming of age novel, set in Newfoundland. Chafe is also known for creating CBC's Republic of Doyle and Son of a Critch.

Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin's mystery novel, Detective Aunty, is also being adapted for television, with Trudeau and Telford serving as executive producers.

The duo says the lineup is diverse and carefully curated with the goal of creating a home for audience-driven storytelling that resonates both in Canada and abroad.

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"At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, we believe in the power of great storytelling to bring people close," Trudeau and Telford said in the release.

"In building Hope & Hard Work we are finding stories that evoke empathy and understanding that can reach audiences in transformative ways; stories that transcend our own beliefs, and help us see the world through someone else's eyes, and remind us of what we share."

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Since stepping back from politics and announcing his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau, 54, has flitted in and out of the public eye, delivering speeches around the world, including at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He was joined there by his girlfriend, pop star Katy Perry, whom he began dating after his resignation.

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Trudeau's venture into the entertainment world appears to follow the lead of his American counterparts, former U.S. president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, who launched the production company Higher Ground in 2018.

In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, also launched a company, Archewell Productions, after stepping back from their royal roles.

Kayla McLean is a web journalist with CBC News in Toronto. She grew up in Brampton, Ont., and received her bachelor of arts in media production at Toronto Metropolitan University. Before joining CBC in 2024, she worked as a breaking news reporter at Global News Toronto — covering everything from crime, sports, festivals and politics. She also reported for Global News's current affairs show, The New Reality, covering stories with a focus on racial equality and climate justice. She also previously held positions as a chase producer and writer for CTV News Channel.

With files from The Canadian Press