Turnbull and Dr. Emily Howard Stowe, Canada's second licensed female physician, were founders.

[1] The guild had some success in improving access to higher education for women.

It was renamed the Canadian Women's Suffrage Association in 1883[2] with Jessie (McEwen) Turnbull as its first president.

[4] In 1884 Turnbull moved to Brandon in Manitoba where her husband had a farm and they built a large house named Tullichewen in 1893.

[1] Turnbull was the vice-president of the National Council in 1900 and she was president of the Brandon branch until 1916.