New Delhi: Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and longtime chief of staff Katie Telford have launched a new production house. The media and entertainment company, Hope & Hard Work, will aim to produce stories that foster empathy and connection.
The pair announced the venture on 11 September during the Toronto International Film Festival, according to the Canadian Press. The company’s name draws from a slogan Trudeau and the Liberal Party frequently used during his nine-year tenure.
Hope & Hard Work has been described as a multidisciplinary enterprise focused on developing and producing scripted and unscripted content across film, television, audio and live experiences.
Several projects are already in development, including a television adaptation of Perry Chafe’s 2023 Newfoundland-set coming-of-age novel Closer by Sea. Chafe is known for creating CBC series such as Republic of Doyle (2010-2014) and Son of a Critch (2022). Another project is an adaptation of Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin’s mystery novel Detective Aunty, with Trudeau and Telford serving as executive producers.
The company has also partnered with Earth Tones to produce documentaries and docuseries. Earth Tones was founded by Canadian sisters Aliya Jasmine and Aliza Sovani. Additional projects in the pipeline include a series based on literary properties exploring politics and power.
“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 a joint statement.
“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.”
Trudeau also emphasised the company’s independence.
“This one we’re building from scratch. We’re not starting with a big partnership … We’re actually self-financing,” the former PM added.
He further said that this approach allows them “freedom to find their own projects” and prioritises “doing things that we want and being in control of it.”
Since announcing his resignation in January 2025, Trudeau has flitted in and out of the public eye, delivering speeches around the world.
Trudeau’s venture into the entertainment world appears to follow the lead of his American and British counterparts.
In 2018, Former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama launched Higher Ground. In 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, also launched Archewell Productions after stepping down as senior members of the British royal family.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)