This is North American culture in a nutshell and I can't say it's much different in Ontario. I can relate to what you say but unless someone is well travelled or has lived in a different culture for a significant period of time it's hard for them to have perspective or realize why people are so ... standoffish.

It's an individualist culture.

All I can say is I hear ya, but you are preaching to the choir. You likely won't get a lot of acknowledgements here.