Faced with growing competition from big-chain fitness centres, Montreal's Women's Y has decided to close its pool at the end of March.

The YWCA pool on René-Lévesque Boulevard West has been open for nearly six decades, but the Y says it's become too expensive to run and maintain the steel basin facilities, which have annual operation costs of $500,000.

The decision underscores the difficulties facing the Y to compete with big-chain fitness centres that have mushroomed across Montreal in recent years.

"Curves and Énergie Cardio, there are other places like that, they're big companies and they cater to thousands and even millions of people," said Claudette Demers Godley, executive director at the Women's Y.

"We can't do that, we don't compete with that."

Last year, the Women's Y was forced to shut down its gym because membership income was dwindling and the centre faced financial difficulties.

A small but loyal group of Muslim and Orthodox Jewish women use the Women's Y pool regularly because it is segregated, but they'll have to find another place to swim, Demers Godley said.

The Y's hostel and community services will still be available. 

The pool closes its doors on March 31.