The Canadian, who led his country to the gold medal at the Turin 2006 Winter Games, is one of two skips attending the event in Ottawa, which began today, alongside Niklas Edin.

Sweden's Edin, a double world champion, also won Olympic bronze at Sochi 2014.

The Summit, to run until May 27, has been called to address challenges faced throughout the 2015-16 season with brush head technology and sweeping technique.

On-ice testing will take place in the Canadian capital, with some of the world's top sweepers also involved.

These are Canada's Ben Hebert, Marc Kennedy, Nolan Thiessen, Emma Miskew and Mark Nichols, the United States' Matt Hamilton, Japan's Kosuke Morozumi, Switzerland's Christine Urech and Norway's Håvard Vad Petersson.

WCF vice presidents Graham Prouse, Bent Ramsfjell and Hugh Millikin will also take part, with the latter - who represents the Pacific-Asia region - chairing the summit.

Fredrik Lindberg, coach and team leader of the Swedish men’s team, and Jon Mead, chair of the World Curling Players Association, will be among others to attend.

At the Summit, the results of the WCF's "Sweeping Survey" will be distributed.

With around 5,000 submissions, this found a consensus that "a curling shot is more about the thrower than the sweepers" and that "sweeping in curling is not meant for slowing down a stone or backing it up".

The Summit was called for after brushes made out of hair became the latest to be banned by the WCF.

Back in October of last year, a number of teams on the Canadian circuit decided to stop using brushes which contained modified fabric following fears over the impact the technology has on the field of play as well as the influence on the path of the stone.

A petition was set up and attracted signatures from representatives of 52 teams at international level.

After the WCF became aware of the issue they issued a moratorium ahead of the European Championships, held in Esbjerg in Denmark last November, which prohibited the use of the brushes during the competition and for the rest of the 2015-16 campaign.

This ban was placed on brush heads which contain fabric which has been textured, sealed or modified from its original woven form, as well as "hardening or stiffening inserts located between the outer fabric and internal cushioning material of the brush head", according to the moratorium.

Curling’s worldwide governing body also insisted only equipment available for sale to the public at retail outlets was permitted during the tournament in Esbjerg, won by Russia.

Concerns were then raised by players about the impact of brushes made out of hair on the ice and the direction of the stone, prompting the WCF to perform a series of tests before choosing to enforce a ban on their use.

After the summit new regulations will be proposed for approval by WCF Members at their Annual General Assembly – to be held in September in Stockholm, Sweden.