Christian Gerro teaches Canada about gratitude

On a recent Friday, Christian Gerro was making Canada a more grateful place in silence. As rain fell from low grey clouds outside his window, the 32-year-old cut squares of yellow and pink paper, then folded them and folded them and folded them.

Many hours and countless paper squares hence, he will have spelled out “Ella” in origami.

It will be a gift for a friend at the Canadian Association for Community Living, Antigonish chapter.

In his office at L’arche Antigonish, he is surrounded by pictures of origami he has designed and created as gifts for people he has intersected with.

There’s the Chicago Blackhawks emblem for a co-worker at Cleve’s Sporting Goods, a rainbow flag for the studio owner who cut his hair and the emblems of superheroes.

For most of us, the world around us comes into our minds primarily via light and sound.

Deaf and with precious little eyesight, Gerro has had to be more resourceful.

He told Saltwire through a sign language interpreter how he came to origami through weaving, teaching himself using online tutorials.

His first were flowers he folded for his mother and grandmother in Monastery, Antigonish County.

He quietly watches people, assesses what they like and what would be their colours and then sets to work on a surprise.

With the same methodical care with which he folds his gifts, Gerro has created a full life for himself.

Among his art, there are two gold medals from the 2018 Paralympic Games for track events.

He has an extensive network of friends, work and sometimes volunteers with the St. Francis Xavier University X-men basketball team.

Beyond a community and a life, there’s another gift Gerro has created for himself — a crown.

He only puts it on after winning at Skip-bo.