now this is only based on my own experience of interacting with people when i lived there and it's more about english canadians than french canadians. the french canadians seem very cold and aloof at first but once you become friendly with them they are super hospitable and always willing to help you out. i think a big city atmosphere like montreal contributes to the behavior of people as well.
but anyway as for what i mean by bland, there doesn't seem to exist a whole lot of outliers in society up there. like everyone falls pretty much in the middle on most topics, beliefs, etc. no one i met ever really had a good personality or understood my sense of humor, which is definitely a bit left of center, but i know a lot of people with a similar style around here. and keep in mind, these are only the people i interacted with and i am not saying this is true of 34 million people. but one thing i like about the US is the outliers, the funny and strange people that you meet all the time. it also seems much easier to make friends down here. and i mean i live in the northeast, which isn't known for being the most friendly part of the country by any means. also, no one had an attitude when i was in canada, and that is something i am used to hearing and have myself being from the boston-providence area. canada was missing that edge.
i learned a lot living up there though and was super glad for the experience once i moved back. montreal has to be the nicest city i have ever seen. i actually still have my work permit that is valid until summer 2014. who knows i may even use it to go work up at Kicking Horse or Revelstoke one of these winters. that part of Canada has to be one of my favorite places in the whole world.